Important Watches, Collector's Wristw...

Hotel Richemond, Geneva, Oct 13, 2001

LOT 523

Robert Gerth & Ce, Chaux de Fonds, circa 1840.Very fine, large, and extremely rare 18K gold, triple-train, quarter-repeating, independent dead-seconds astronomic watch striking every 15 seconds.

CHF 12,000 - 16,000

USD 7,300 - 9,700

Sold: CHF 21,850

C. Four-body with reeded band, bezels, pendant and bow with chisiled floral decoration, the back engine-turned. Hinged gold cuvette engraved with technical details. D. White enamel with radial Roman numerals and outer minute ring. Gold "Breguet" hands. M. 54,4 mm, gilt brass triple-train, 29 jewels, going barrels on both trains, ruby cylinder escapement, flat balance-spring. Repeating on gongs with pull-and-twist piston on the pendant, independent dead center-seconds with a flirt acting on the ecape pinion and bolt in the band.Signed on the cuvette.Diam. 61 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3 - 6*
Dial: 3 - 17 - 01

Notes

The most unusual feature of the watch is its ability to strike every 15 seconds, which is necessary in astronomic observations and scientific experiments that require accurate and audible time signals. To include this feature, Gerth had to use an entire independent train with its own power source. In order to reduce friction and make the striking as isochronous as possible, he jeweled the gear train and the balance staff. He implemented a small spring detent mechanism which releases the strikingtrain almost instantaneously, thus making the striking train as independent as possible from the going train. Before 1874, when the break circuit system was introduced, watches striking every few seconds were extremely rare, although there were clocks with this feature.