PIERRE & ACHILLE BENOIT À VERSAILLES | A FINE AND RARE GOLD LEVER CHRONOGRAPH WATCH WITH DEAD CENTRAL DEAD SECONDS AND JUMPING FIFTHS WITH INDEPENDENT SECONDS STOP SLIDEBEGUN CIRCA 1808, COMPLETED CIRCA 1840, NO.216

• Movement: gilded ½ plate, lever escapement, bi-metallic compensation balance with moveable wedge shaped weights, parachute suspension, large central wheel mounted to the backplate engaging with a spring to the side set with an asymmetrically wedge-shaped jewel to control the jumping centre seconds, fusee and chain, signed and numbered A. Benoit à Versailles • Dial: white enamel, Roman numerals, outer ring for minutes/seconds with Arabic numerals at the quarter hours, gold moon hands, blued steel jumping centre seconds, sunken subsidiary dial with jumping 5ths, signed A. Benoit à Versailles • Case: pink gold, engine-turned back centred with a polished roundel with blue enamel monogram, milled band, slide beneath 6 o'clock to start/stop centre and jumping seconds, further slide to case side between 2 and 3 o'clock to reveal hand-set square, back numbered 836 and with maker's mark AG beneath a star for Ami Gros, plain polished gold cuvette with aperture for winding• Chain: with short chain and double ended ratcheted winding/hand-setting key 

Antiquorum Geneva, 14 November 2004, lot 13

Movement: running at time of cataloguing but stopping intermittently, will need attention. Dial: with small chip to the edge between 3 and 4 o'clock, otherwise appears to be in good overall condition. Case: in good overall condition with clear engine-turned decoration, very small, very light and minor depression to very edge of case back at upper right side.
"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."

Construction of this watch was begun by Pierre Benoit, a watchmaker who worked for Breguet, and completed by Achille Benoit.