Important Wristwatches, Watches & Clocks

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 14, 1990

LOT 292

Lallemand à Paris, No. 450, circa 1800. Important and fine 18 ct. hunting cased half quarter repeating watch with an early lever escapement.

Important and fine 18 ct. hunting cased half quarter repeating watch with an early lever escapement. Three body "Empire" polished case made by Tavernier ( master mark), with reeded band, the cover centered with a small engine turned decoration. White enamel dial with Breguet numerals and gilt star divisions (slightly restored around the winding hole). Gold Breguet hands with skeletonized tip. Very fine full plate gilt brass movement of Robin caliber, 15 jewels, with cylindrical pillars, the going barrel passing through the back plate, secured by an engraved bridge. Earliest form of straight line lever escapement with jewelled pallets, of the type used by Robert Robin and drawn from that made in England by Emery. Plain gold three armed balance and Breguet type bimetallic compensation curb. Repeating on large and short gongs screwed on the case, by means of the depressing pendant. Signed on the chat and the back plate. In very good condition. Diam. 58 mm. Only a few watches were produced in France with a lever escapement, at the end of the XVlllth century. They were nearly all made by Breguet or by Robin and his pupils such as De Belle and Lallemand. The movement of this watch is very similar to those made by Robert Robin towards the end of his life. It embodies most of their technical features. The caliber is the same, the lever escapement as well is drawn from that made by Emery but unlike the watches made by Robin, the anchor is set with jewelled pallets and most of the pivots are running in jewelled bearings with ruby endstones, features seldom found on other French watches of this period, even examples made by Breguet.