Mugnier served bis apprenticeship Linder Abraham Louis Breguet, and alongside his master and Charles Oudin (another pupil of Breguet), was the only maker capable of=executing such a complex watch. In tact, to date, only this example and one other similar are known (See Antiquorum, L'Art de l'Horlogerie en France, 14 November 1993, pp. 288-289). It is perhaps no coincidence that the only other known example of such a watch was modified and rebuilt by Winnerl, a master chronometer maker, circa 1850. To attract the attention of such a talented craftsman some 30 years later, Mugnier's creations must have been held in great esteem. The most likely explanation for the changes made to the watch now offered for sale, appears to be the owner's desire to preserve and enhance its appearance. The painted numerals on the rock crystal dial are in a style consistent with a date around 1850, and although it is possible that they were rcpainted at that time, it is safer to assume that the dial and the glazed back were fitted in the mid 19th Century to show off the complexity of the movement. There is no obvious reason why there is a disparity of 5 between the movement number and that engraved on the platinum weight. It is possible that the original weight was lost or damaged, and replaced by another by someone in possession of original parts, as there can be no doubt that it is an original made by Mugnier. Platinum is a difficult and expensive metal to work and the watch-maker would not willingly start again from scratch if an alternative solution was readily available. The case, very similar to that sold to Napoleon, could be the original one altered to exhibit the movement or another one made circa 1850 in the same style, when the rock crystal dial was made, (no hallmarks, but they could have been on the back now replaced by a glass). Another hypothesis could well be that the watch was never finished during Mugnier's hfetime and found by his successor who, due to its beauty decided to complete it with spare pieces found in stock, as an exhibition piece, to pay tribute to the founder of the company