Ls. George a Berlin, circa 1790. Fine and rare, 18 ct. gold, early dead centre second stop-watch with special escapement and date. | Important Watches, Wristwatches and clocks

Important Watches, Wristwatches and c...

Geneva, Apr 20, 1996

LOT 348

Ls. George a Berlin, circa 1790. Fine and rare, 18 ct. gold, early dead centre second stop-watch with special escapement and date.

CHF 10,000 - 12,000

C. Double body, Louis XVI, polished D. White enamel with small eccentric Arabic hour and minute chapter, symmetric calendar ring, centre second chapter on the border of the bezel (hair line). Gold "poker and beetle" hands. M. Hinged gilt brass full plate with cylindrical pillars, fusee with chain, Pouzait lever escapement with extra large plain gold four-arm balance covering 90% of the back plate, flat balance spring with regulator, skeletonised gilt brass cock. Knurled setting wheel and stop-watch lever, in the gilt brass dial plate. Signed on the dial and back plate. In very good condition. Diam. 58 mm.

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During the last quarter of the 18th Century, several watchmakers tried to produce watches with dead centre second hands, much in favour among the scientists and for the Chinese Market. The attempt made by Moise Pouzait with a lever escapement associated with a large seconds beating balance, due to its spectacular aspect, was much appreciated on the Chinese Market in spite if its inertia sensitivity, before the invention by Jacot of the so-called "Chinese duplex" escapement enabling the production of dead centre second watches.