Important Watches, Wristwatches and C...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 12, 1996

LOT 402

Construite par Berthoud Freres, No. 200, delivered to Capitaine Boulanger on 30 September 1830. Modif ie et regle par Vissiere. Rare and important marine chronometer, 32 hour power reserve, made in the Louis Berthoud's workshop, after his death

CHF 14,000 - 18,000

C.Double body mahogany box with slide on the lid over the observation aperture. Brass gimbal with a ladded bowl. Brass case en forme de tabatiere. D. Silvered regulator type, with small Roman chapter ring for hours, subsidiary seconds below, outer Arabic minute ring on the border of the bezel and Up-and-Down scale. Blued steel Breguet hands. M. Brass spotted finished, full plate with polished, fully jeweled, with steel conical pillars secured by nuts with washers. Fusee with chain, maintaining power, Eanushaw type spring detent escapement, two-arm armed compensation balance, with four cylindrical weights and timing screws, palladium helical balance spring with terminal curves and diamond end-stone. Signed on the dial and the back plate. Vissiere inscription on the dial. In very good condition. Dial diam. 80 mm.


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Notes

Although made after his death, this chronometer is very similar to that produced by Louis Berthoud as early as 1800. Trained by Henri Motel after his death in 1813, Louis Berthoud's sons almost always used the same calibre as their father with the addition of the power reserve indicator. For more information on the work of Berthoud Freres, please refer to: J.C. Sabrier, La longitude en nice n I'hcure de Louis Berthoud it de Henri Motel. The inscription on the dial: Modifie et rdgle par Vissiere, refers to the escapement, the balance and the helical spring, obviously made by Vissiere in order to up date this remarkable chronometer and improve its performances. Simon Vissiere, born in Paris in 1822 and pupil of Winner], settled in Le Havre in 1867. He was among the best chronometer makers of his time.