French Grande Sonnerie Coach Watch

Inventory number: PW1809013

Made in France circa 1800, 130mm diameter, a solid silver case covered with shagreen.  

Functions: four-train movement with hours and minutes, date, quarter repeating, Grande Sonnerie and alarm functions, very complicated.

Shagreen

Shagreen is the untanned smoothly pebbled textured skins of rays, sharks, or dogfish. In finishing, it is dyed, mostly green, but the color often fades to a cream color. Shagreen was a popular material in Europe during the Art Deco era when designers sought to mold the French tradition of luxury with exotic and precious materials. Most collectible items made from shagreen are smaller objects, like glasses cases, dagger and sword hilts, dressing accessories, boxes, and picture frames.