Important Wristwatches, Watches & Clocks

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 17, 1992

LOT 147

Albert H. Potter & Co. Geneva, No. 102, made for Henri Kreig, Paris, circa 1880. Rare and unusual, 18 ct. gold, hunting cased, keyless pocket chronometer.

CHF 10,000 - 12,000

Sold: CHF 15,755

C Three body, massive, bassine et filets, engine-turned, with Iater cover and back panels. D. white enamel with Roman numerals, outer Arabic minute ring and sunk subsidiary seconds. Blued steel Breguet hands. M. Glazed, 21?, nickel plated, patented caliber, fausses côtes decoration, 21 jewels, majority in screwed gold settings, great wheel screwed on to the barrel cap. Patented pivoted detent escapement, shock-absorbing counterpoised and off-set passing spring. Two armed cut bimetallic balance, helical balance spring, free sprung with terminal curves. Signed on the movement. In very good condition. Diam. 56 mm.


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Notes

This watch employs three of Potter's patents, the details of which are engraved on the bridges. The plate design, which is virtual machining from the solid, was patented on January 4, 1876, the escapement and presumably the great wheel design, on October 11, 1875. Albert Potter's work is not only rare, but always of top quality and completely original design. Such chronometers were usually manufactured in Geneva for the American market. This watch, signed by Henri Kreig, Paris, undoubtedly made for the French market, is maybe unique not to be signed by the name of Potter, Henri Kraig is not recorded in Paris as a chronometer maker nor a dealer.