SWISS & GERMAN | A LARGE AND EXCEPTIONALLY RARE SILVER OPEN-FACED KEYLESS WATCH THE LONGINES MOVEMENT LATER MODIFIED TO INCORPORATE A ONE MINUTE FLYING TOURBILLON WITH SPRING DETENT CHRONOMETER ESCAPEMENTORIGINALLY RETAILED BY HERPY ARNOLD, BUDAPEST, 1925, NO.4190747

• Movement: frosted gilded modified Longines calibre 24.99, the Earnshaw-type spring detent chronometer escapement mounted within a one-minute flying tourbillon carriage, large guillaume balance, diamond endstone, signed and numbered Longines 4190747• Dial: white enamel dial, Arabic numerals, black outer minute ring, sunken dial centre and subsidiary seconds dial, blued steel hands, signed Longines Herpy Arnold Budapest• Case: plain polished silver case, pink gold capped crown, the cuvette signed Longines and with commemorative exhibition medallions, engraved '7 Grand Prix', case and cuvette numbered 4190747 

Galerie Koller Zürich, November 1985

Reinhard Meis, Das Tourbillon, 1986, p.259 & figs.346-346a

Movement: running at time of cataloguing but would recommend a clean and service. Dial: with faint hairline to the centre, light scratch to edge of dial between 7 and 8 o'clock. Case: with tarnishing and and some small and light marks and scratches. Glass slightly loose.
"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 Longines archives note that this watch was delivered to Herpy Arnold in Budapest and invoiced on 22 June 1925. Manufactured by Longines with a lever escapement, the calibre 24.99 movement was later expertly modified by an unknown but highly skilled watchmaker to incorporate a flying tourbillon with spring detent escapement. Whilst it is not known who carried out the transformation, as Richard Meis notes in his authoritative book, Das Tourbillon, the tourbillon's style suggests a German origin, Meis writes: "certainly many of the excitements of the German watchmaking school in Glashütte have been realised here, possibly it is the work of a former DUS student or master who made their Tourbillon outside the DUS" [translated from the original German text of R. Meis, Das Tourbillon, 1986, p.259] Gyula Herpy of Budapest, was a successful retailer who began his business in 1817 by importing and selling predominantly Swiss clocks and watches to Hungarian clients. The business was nationalised after the Second World War.