Gold, enamel and ivory pendant watch, Lacloche Frères, circa 1927. Photo Sotheby's

Jewelled nickel lever movement, silvered guilloché dial, Arabic numerals, blued steel hands, ivory case with applied gold classical Greek figures, applied gold fittings to the band, pendant on a black silk ribbon, with rectangular ivory plaque and applied gold decoration, movement numbered, plaque stamped FV for Ferdinand Verger. Estimate 6,000-8,000 GBP

LITTERATURE: Price, J., Masterpieces of French Jewelry, Philadelphia, First Edition, 2006, p. 78.

NOTE: In 1872, Ferdinand Verger founded the French maison which designed and created beautiful watches and clocks. Passing the company on to his two sons, Georges and Henri, the firm soon became known as Verger Frères. They made jewels and watch cases for some of the most elite jewelers of the world, including La Cloche, Boucheron, Mauboussin, Tiffany & Co., Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels. Ferdinand Verger recognized the importance of design as well as craftsmanship and hired talented artists to create miniature works of art to encase his watch movements.

Sotheby's. Fine Jewels. London | 11 juil. 2013, 10:30 AM - www.sothebys.com