L. Leroy & Cie 18k Yellow Gold With Box circa 1930’s

L. Leroy & Cie was founded in the late 18th century, and is one of those brands, such as Boucheron, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Breguet, with an astonishing legacy. Louis Leroy is known for crafting wristwatches on special order with Chronometer-grade movements, they share this distinction with Breguet, another French-based watchmaker.

Louis Leroy was born in 1860 in Besançon, France. This is considered the historic center of French horology, where Louis Leroy made history in 1900 with the creation of the Leroy 01, which at the time was the most complex watch ever built, featuring an incredible 24 complications across two dials. Among its remarkable functions were chiming features such as a minute repeater and grande and petite sonnerie. Additionally, the Leroy 01 displayed the time in 125 cities, tracked seasons, solstices, equinoxes, included a perpetual calendar, a hygrometer, a barometer, and even an altimeter. It also featured three interchangeable celestial charts showcasing the skies over Paris, Lisbon, and Rio de Janeiro. The Leroy 01 held the title of the world’s most complex watch until 1989, when Patek Philippe’s caliber 89 surpassed it. Leroy’s pocketwatch and wristwatch movements frequently participated in the prestigious timekeeping competitions at the Besançon Observatory.

L. Leroy & Cie watches remain prized by insiders. These rare timepieces usually change hands only among seasoned collectors, seldom appearing in public auctions or mainstream markets. Therefore, we are proud to have sourced this beautiful object, and to be able to offer it to you.

This particular L. Leroy & Cie wristwatch, is a prime example of a high-quality, French horology from the 1930’s. It shows many design similarities with Breguet watches from the same era, emphasizing its quality and craftsmanship. All components of this elegant, circa 90 year old wristwatch, are made of the finest materials and have been hand finished to meet the highest horological standards at the time. Even when compared with todays dress watches, this L. Leroy & Cie beats almost every competitor in terms of finishing and quality. Have you noticed, how slim the case profile is, for example?