Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P...

Geneva, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Du Rhône, Nov 12, 2006

LOT 271

?Watch with Two Escapements? Swiss. Made circa 1870. Fine and extremely unusual, twin-barrel, two-independent train silver pocket watch with lever escapement and a built-in working model of a cylinder escapement.

CHF 9,000 - 11,000

EUR 5,500 - 7,000 / USD 7,200 - 9,000

Sold: CHF 12,980

C. Three-body, ?bassine et filets?, polished, glazed back. D. Silver, polished chapter ring with radial Roman numerals, outer minute divisions, engine-turned center. Blued steel ?Breguet? hands. M. 49 mm., 22???, polished gilt, two going barrels placed back-to-back and wound in unison, 16 jewels, some in screwed gold chatons, two wheel trains, counterpoised lever escapement with cut bimetallic compensation balance, blued steel Breguet balance spring, index regulator, additional cylinder escapement not geared to the center wheel, with three-arm balance, blued steel flat balance spring, index regulator. Diam. 54 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-04

Good

HANDS Later

Notes

The present watch was very likely made in one of the Swiss Ecoles d?Horlogerie as an exhibition piece to demonstrate both the lever and the cylinder escapement. The style of the plates was probably inspired by Jürgensen. The watch has two spring barrels placed back-to-back with an interconnecting arbor, so that both are wound at the same time, the lever escapement is the main escapement and actually operates with the going train. The cylinder escapement is driven by the rear barrel via a further train beneath the dial plate, but has no operational function ? this watch is in effect a lever watch incorporating a working model of a cylinder escapement.