Leroy is considered by many as the modern heir to Abraham-Louis Breguet, his watchmaking genius being used for constant innovations and pursuit of precision. Born in 1860 in Besançon, the historical cradle of French watchmaking, Louis Leroy created in 1900 the Leroy 01, the most complicated watch ever made at the time with an astounding 24 complications on two dials. Other than the chiming complications such as minute repeater, grande and petite sonnerie, the Leroy 01 also indicated time in 125 cities, seasons, the winter and summer solstice, spring and autumn equinox, a perpetual calendar, a hygrometer, a barometer and even an altimeter. The Leroy 01 also had three interchangeable celestial charts representing the sky over Paris, Lisbon and Rio de Janeiro.

The Leroy 01 remained the world’s most complicated timepiece until 1989 and Patek Philippe’s caliber 89.

Leroy pocketwatch and wristwatch movements regularly competed in the prestigious Besançon Observatory trials. The movement of the present lot is based on a Peseaux 260 caliber finished and regulated by Leroy’s master watchmaker A. Pelot. It was presented at the Besançon Observatory trial of 1953 obtaining 48,69 points. The prestigious hallmark in form of a viper's head stamped on the movement by the Observatory of Besançon attests the watch’s success at the trial.

The present lot will please not only thanks to its chronometer movement but also thanks to its large masculine case and beautifully patinated vanilla colored dial, large numerals and oversized sub seconds, giving the watch a very modern look.