MATHIEU DE LARZAT, À PARIS | A DOUBLE-DIALLED WORLD TIME VERGE WATCH MOVEMENT WITH DATE IN ASSOCIATED CUSTOM MADE GOLD CASEMOVEMENT CIRCA 1780, CASE CIRCA 1820

• Movement: full plate, verge escapement, fusee and chain, cylindrical pillars, plain three-arm brass balance• Dials: front: white enamel, Roman numerals, outer minute ring with Arabic numeral 5-minute markers, inner red date ring, gilt-brass serpent-form hands heightened with light blue and black enamel, blued steel date hand with arrow-form tip, aperture for winding • back: the outer dial marked with 50 world locations marked in alternating black and gold text, central rotating disc divided into diurnal hours in red and nocturnal hours in black with periods of the day, the disc rotating counter clockwise and the hours indicating to the world locations• Case: later custom made, pink gold, engine-turned bezels, milled band

Antiquorum Geneva, 14 October 1990, lot 51

Movement: just running for very short periods at time of cataloguing. The hands adjusting and the world time disc moving with the hands. Dials: front dial appears to be in good condttion with some minor chipping around winding aperture. Case: with some scuffing and light indentations to the bezels.
"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."

As global trade and commerce continued to advance during the 18th century, a consequence of mankind's growing ability to successfully navigate the oceans, so people's perception of the world began to change. Towards the end of the 18th century, the first world time watches started to appear, early examples of which, such as the present watch, would display a succession of world locations against which a central disc would revolve once every 24-hours to display the time in each location. For further examples of watches from this period using a similar system, see P. Friess, "Patek Philippe Museum Vol. IV, The Emergence of the Portable Watch", pp.228-229.