Importantes Montres de Collection

Geneva, Nov 13, 2011

LOT 367

GRASSET PATENT BARREL-LESS WATCH Isaac Grasset & Cie, Genève, No. 496. Made circa 1910. Fine and rare, silver pocket watch without mainspring barrel built to the design of Swiss Patents No. 5019 of September 9, 1892 and No. 14528 of June 18, 1897.

CHF 2,000 - 3,000

USD 2,300 - 3,300 / EUR 1,700 - 2,500

Sold: CHF 3,125

C. Three body, "bassine et filets" engine-turned with polished borders, back cover with vacant cartouche. Glazed silver-rimmed cuvette for viewing the movement. D. White enamel with Arabic numerals, outer minute divisions and Arabic fi ve-minute numerals, subsidiary seconds. Gold Louis hands. M. 18''', matte gilt brass, 15 jewels, the mainspring rolled around the winding shaft, straight-line lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance, blued steel Breguet balance spring, index regulator. Movement punched with Swiss Patent numbers 5019 & 14528. Case with Swiss and German hallmarks. Diam. 51 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 2

Very good
Movement: 2*

Very good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 2-01

Very good

HANDS Original

Notes

Isaac Grasset & Cie A watchmaker who was also a lapidary. His workshop was at 44, rue Wendt. He applied for several patents, such as a polishing and lapidaring machine in 1892, a device to set time by means of the pendant in 1896, a microme tric index in 1899, patents No. 5019 and later No. 14528 for a helical mainspring rolled around the winding stem. This device makes the mainspring barrel and the corresponding bridge unnecessary and therefore reduces the cost of these watches. Unfortunately, such economy was a detriment to their reliability. A new attempt was made, with the assistance of Auguste Meylan, to improve his invention by another patent applied for on September 9, 1892. This latter invention was presented in 1896 at the Geneva Exhibition.