JEAN LE MAIRE, À ROME | A RARE AND INTERESTING SILVER PAIR CASED ASTRONOMICAL WATCH WTIH STRAIGHT HAIRSPRING CIRCA 1680

• Movement: gilded full plate, verge escapement, blued steel wheel and click set-up, decoratively pierced and engraved screwed-on balance cock, plain flat steel three-arm balance, one end of the straight hairspring fixed to the balance, the other attached to 'Barrow'-type worm-form regulator mounted to the cock's foot with corresponding indication scale, fusee and chain, turned baluster pillars, signed Jean Le Maire, à Rome • Dial: gilded, silver chapter ring with Roman numerals and half hour divisions between, gilt annular carrying a blued steel pointer indicating the date to the outer silver ring, central gilded disc engraved with scrolling foliage and two flowers and mounted with a blued steel pointer indicating moon age, opposite an aperture for moon-phases indicated via a silver disc, blued steel hand• Cases: plain silver inner case with shuttered winding aperture, plain ring pendant • shagreen covered outer case

Time Museum, Rockford Illinois
Sothebys, New York, Fine Watches from the Atwood Collection, 11 December, 1986, lot 27

Dial: Attractive dial with some light scuffs and scratches, two screws securing the chapter ring. Case: Silver inner case with light depressions to the band as expected. The outer shagreen case was originally covered with piqué work, the fine patterned holes for the pins are visible to the inside back and to the underside of the bezel. Movement: Running at time of cataloguing and appears to be in clean condition, some light scratching to the backplate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. All dimensions in catalogue descriptions are approximate. Condition reports may not specify mechanical replacements or imperfections to the movement, case, dial, pendulum, separate base(s) or dome. Watches in water-resistant cases have been opened to examine movements but no warranties are made that the watches are currently water-resistant. Please note that we do not guarantee the authenticity of any individual component parts, such as wheels, hands, crowns, crystals, screws, bracelets and leather bands, since subsequent repairs and restoration work may have resulted in the replacement of original parts. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue. In particular, please note it is the purchaser's responsibility to comply with any applicable import and export matters, particularly in relation to lots incorporating materials from endangered species.NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

**Please be advised that bands made of materials derived from endangered or otherwise protected species (i.e. alligator and crocodile) are not sold with the watches and are for display purposes only. We reserve the right to remove these bands prior to shipping."

The movement of this watch has an interesting, unusual and early application of a hairspring. One end of a straight 'spring' is attached to the balance itself, whilst the other is held between two curb pins mounted to the foot of the balance cock. The watch is regulated by altering the length of the straight spring in a similar manner to the so-called 'Barrow' regulator. Turning the worm (endless screw) which is mounted to the foot of the cock, causes a slide to move up or down the length of the spring thereby altering its length. The slide indicates to a scale engraved to the cock's foot, opposite the worm.