Berthoud Frères, No. 245, circa 1840. Rare and important marine chronometer, made by the sons of Louis Berthoud, but sold by Charles Auguste Berthoud after the separation of the two brothers in 1831. | Important Watches, Wristwatches and Clocks | Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, 15th October 1994

Important Watches, Wristwatches and C...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 15, 1994

LOT 47

Berthoud Frères, No. 245, circa 1840. Rare and important marine chronometer, made by the sons of Louis Berthoud, but sold by Charles Auguste Berthoud after the separation of the two brothers in 1831.

CHF 30,000 - 35,000

Sold: CHF 32,200

C. Double body mahogany box with slide on the lid over the glazed observation aperture. Brass gimball with a ladded bowl. Brass case en forme de tabatière. D. White enamel regulator type, with small Roman chapter for hours, subsidiary seconds below, outer Arabic minute ring on the border of the bezel. Blued steel Breguet hands. M. Brass, full plate, fullyjeweled, with steel conical pillars secured by nuts with washers. Fusee with chain, maintaining power, spring detent escapement, three armed compensation balance, with three trapezoidal weights and timing screws, blued steel helical balance spring. Signed "Berthoud Frères on the dial, Auguste Berthoud on the back plate. In very good condition. Dial diam. 80 mm.

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Notes

Allthough still made with an ebauche typical of that used by Louis Berthoud and after his death by his sons, this chronometer is certainly one of the first finished by Charles Auguste Berthoud, bearing already the influence of the new school of French makers, initiated by Onesime Dumas. The balance bridge is much simplified and above all, it incorporates for the first time a spring detent escapement instead of the pivoted escapement used by Louis Berthoud and most of his pupils and Successors.