A note regarding the original owner of this set:
A. Pierre Dufay purchased the watch/ring set in Geneva, Switzerland in the mid 1960's, as a present for his wife Irene Larsson Dufay, who was living in the US at the time. As an international businessman, Pierre made frequent trips between the U.S. and Europe, and often on trips back to the U.S would be in possession of a gift for his wife. And as was his habit, when going through customs he never declared anything. But this time, while bringing back the watch/ring set, things would go a bit differently. U.S. customs was looking for a particular individual and Pierre fit the description. Pierre was asked to answer a few questions, in private if he didn't mind. As his wife waited for him in the reception area at the airport with no information, Pierre was sitting in a room stripped down to his underwear, answering questions. And all the time sweating that the customs officials would find his undeclared luxury goods. After going through half of Pierre's luggage, the half not including the watch/ring set, the customs officials were momentarily called out of the room. At which point Pierre jumped into action and quickly put the watch/ring set in with the items already inspected, thus eluding the hand of the law. When Pierre finally emerged from the customs office, 2 hours later, Irene said Pierre said he looked like he had seen his life flash before his eyes. Irene loved the watch, but rarely wore it because of its weight. She did however wear the ring very often. Before marrying Pierre, Irene was a principle dancer with the New York City Ballet under George Balanchine.