Pocket watch: significant gold and enamel hunting case pocket watch

Ca. Ø55mm, ca. 131g, 18-carat gold, very fine painting of the 5th Shah of Persia on the front, Mozaffar ad-Din, as commander of the Persian Guard, original diamond and ruby setting; on the reverse, the Persian coat of arms featuring a lion, a sabre, a sun and a laurel wreath, the rim also beautifully enamelled, serial number 47722, dome inscribed ‘Mouvement de la Vallee’, dome also listing the complications: minute repeater and chronograph, glazed movement, highly complex Swiss precision lever movement with minute repeater and chronograph, extremely rare dial in red engine-turned enamel, gold numerals, gold hands, in working order. The watch is in a marvellous state of preservation; both paintings are original and have not been restored. The signature ‘Mouvement de la Vallee’ is an indication of the high quality for which movements from the ‘Vallee’ are renowned, such as those by Le Coultre or Louis-Elisée Piguet. This is either the personal watch of the 5th Shah of Persia or an extremely valuable gift watch. We are aware of another example with an identical case but a standard ‘white’ dial, from the Dr Crott Anniversary Auction 2015, with an estimated price of €75,000–85,000. Mozaffar ad-Din Shah (1853–1907) reigned as Shah of Persia from 1896 to 1907.

Estimate:£29,730.05

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