Swiss/German

A MAGNIFICENT GOLD, TURQUOISE ENAMEL AND DIAMOND- AND RUBY-SET HUNTING CASED KEYLESS LEVER PRESENTATION WATCH MADE FOR KING LUDWIG II OF BAVARIA WITH MATCHING CHAIN CIRCA 1880

• Movement: gilded, lever escapement, jewelled to the centre, bi-metallic compensation balance, regulation calibrated to the central bridge, plain polished gold cuvette, movement unsigned
• Dial: white enamel, Roman numerals, outer minute ring, gilt filigree hands, subsidiary seconds
• Case: 18ct gold, the cover with diamond-set monogram of two intertwined letters 'L' beneath a diamond-set crown, all against an opaque turquoise enamel ground, ruby-set border, the back with an applied diamond-set horse's head with ruby-set harness and eye, similarly set against an opaque turquoise enamel border with ruby-set border, the elaborate pendant with ruby and diamond setting, crown chased and engraved with oak leaves and acorns, the bow chased and engraved in the form of interlocking branches, lever for hand-setting beneath bezel at 4 o'clock
• Chain: matching gold chain composed of linked gold knots interspersed with diamond- and turquoise-set ovals, terminating to one side with a pendant clip, to the other with a diamond- and sapphire-set crown from which emanate a diamond- and turquoise-set t-bar and a blank fob seal in the form of a rearing horse with cabochon turquoise to the base
diameter 53mm

Provenance:
Sotheby's New York, 22 June 1998, lot 289
Christie's Geneva, 14 May 2007, lot 54