Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces
Monaco, Jul 21, 2021
LOT 255
Bovet
Chronograph, patented split-seconds, minute counter, silver dial; “Mono-Rattrapante” “Anti-Magnetique”; 18K yellow gold
Chronograph, patented split-seconds, minute counter, silver dial; “Mono-Rattrapante” “Anti-Magnetique”; 18K yellow gold
EUR 2,000 - 4,000
USD 2,400 - 4,800 / HKD 18,500 - 36,900
Sold: EUR 2,210
18K yellow gold, manual-winding, round-shaped, gentleman’s wristwatch, hinged case-back, silver colour dial with revolving radial Arabic numerals, subsidiary seconds at 9 and three horological complications:
• 1/5 second chronograph (activated by the single olive-shaped push-piece located on the case-band at 2 o’clock) with tachometric scale graduated for 1 000 metres and telemetric scale graduated for a kilometre
• “Mono-Rattrapante”, a kind of patented “single” split-seconds acting on the unique chronograph-hand (activated by the olive-shaped push-piece located on the case-band at 4 o’clock)
• Half-instantaneous 30-minute counter (subsidiary dial at 3 o’clock)
| Grading System | |
|---|---|
Grade: AA |
Very good |
Case: 3-8 |
Good Slightly scratched |
Movement: 3* |
Good Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense |
Dial: 3-7-9-01 |
Good Oxidized Scratched HANDS Original |
Brand Bovet Fleurier , Fleurier (Val-de-Travers)
Model “Mono-Rattrapante” “Anti-Magnetique”
Year circa 1936-1940
Movement No. unnumbered
Case No. 2 160 (by G. & C. Ducommun S.A., La Chaux-de-Fonds)
Bracelet brown leather strap; gilded metal buckle
Caliber 14’’’ , patented device (based on Valjoux 84)
Dimensions 35.5 mm
Signature dial
Notes
Movement based on the Swiss invention patent No. 185 465, delivered on July 31, 1936 (application filed on July 30, 1935), to Charles Jeanneret-Bovet, Fleurier (Val-de-Travers), for a “Chronographe”.
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Bovet, “Mono-Rattrapante”, patented “single” split-seconds with one hand
It was in 1935 that Bovet Frères & Co. created and patented a “mono-rattrapante” chronograph system that acted similarly to a split-seconds mechanism. This chronograph movement with a single hand is elaborated by Bovet on the Valjoux 14’’’ calibre 84.
This particular wristwatch features the three normal functions of any single-button chronograph, activated through the push-piece at 2, enabling the chronograph hand to: “start” / “stop” / “return to zero”.
In addition, there are two further functions activated through the push-piece at 4:
1) By depressing the push-piece, the single chronograph hand stops.
2) By releasing the push-piece, within a maximum time of 60 seconds, the hand jumps forward, catching-up the seconds elapsed in the meantime.
Two versions of this wristwatch exist:
• The first, features a round, flat push-piece at 2 and an olive-shaped push-piece at 4.
• The second version has either a square or a round waterproof push-piece at 2 and at 4.
Bibliography
• Lang, Gerd-R., & Meis, Reinhard, Chronograph Wristwatches, To Stop time, Atglen, PA, 1993, Editions Schiffer Publishing Ltd., pp. 21, 50-51, 180-181 (ill. 337-338) and 238.