Antiquorum, November 6th 2022. Specially crafted for scientific purposes to measure several intervals to the 10th of a second at the same time, this precious timepiece endowed with a high-frequency Guillaume balance and split-seconds chronograph – 30 minutes counter – is sure to appeal to the most sophisticated collectors.

Joël A. Grandjean, JSH® Magazine & Swiss Watch Passport’s Editor in chief
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This 1939 special delivery for the Institute of Meteorology and Physics of the Globe in Algeria (IMPGA) was delivered in 1941 after having been awarded with 237.30 pts a first prize and a gold medal in the 1939 national chronometry contest. It was in the 1st class “sporting event” category of the Besançon Astronomical Observatory.

If we consider that the 1898 observatory regulations stipulated that a first prize and a gold medal could be awarded for a result of between 200 and 300 pts, we understand that any watch with a score above 200 pts could be deemed a pure chronometric delight.

This masterpiece of precision succeeds in measuring several 10th of a second intervals at the same time

The need for such an accuracy’s level is a mystery

The reason for ordering this Leroy No. 18902 is still a mystery to this day. Because at the time it was commissioned, the Institute’s inventory included the most modern astronomical measuring instruments of the time, including several manufactured by L.Leroy. It is worth reminding that the IMPG in Algiers was in a privileged strategic position between all the French Globe institutes, controlling various features of North Africa and the Sahara during occupation, including the military shipping traffic crossing in this area.

One of IMPGA’s missions was to promote the geophysical survey of Algeria, to take charge of the seismic monitoring of the territory and of the meteorological measurements.

What has Albert Camus, the great French writer, got to do with it?

Amazing! By December 1937, approximately one year before the watch was ordered, Camus was an acting assistant in the Institute’s meteorological services department. As such, he was in charge of various kinds of calculations and of the averages.

In his notebooks the writer wrote: “Method of meteorology. The temperature is fluctuating every minute. It is a too changing experience to be fixed in mathematical concepts. Observation here represents an arbitrary cut in reality. And only the average concept can provide a snapshot of this reality.” Camus continued writing:

Albert Camus: “It is normal to spend a little of our life in order not to lose it all. Six or eight hours a day to avoid starving. And then everything is profitable to those who want to take advantage of it“

A major adjuster comes out of the shadows

Within the more enlightened collectors’ community, this Leroy No. 18902 is loaded with extra desirability. Indeed, this watch highlights a highly awarded French master watchmaker and adjuster, Albert Dessay (1904-2003). It should be noted that it is thanks to the adjusting process, which remains the most achieved discipline in high-precision watchmaking, that the piece had obtained the astonishing result of 237.30 points! For comparison, the standard score for a Class A bulletin used to be 100 pts.

Auctioned at CHF 15,000 at Antiquorum on 6 November 2022, the most knowledgeable hammers’ universe’s observers are keen to know which private or public, French or international Collection will be the one to raise the auction fever!