Important Modern and Vintage Timepieces

Geneva, Mar 11, 2012

LOT 429

DUFOUR CHRONOGRAPH ? GENEVA OBSERVATORY 1ST CLASS LEVER CHRONOMETER J. E. Dufour & Co, Fabricants, Genève, ?Chronomètre?No. 13705. Made circa 1900. Extremely fine and rare, large and heavy 18K pink gold, hunting-cased, keyless pocket watch with chronograph, 1st Class Bulletin de Marche achieved at the Observatoire de Genève. Accompanied by a fitted rosewood box.

CHF 6,500 - 8,000

USD 7,000 - 8,700 / EUR 5,500 - 6,500

C. Four-body, bassine et fi lets, polished, the front cover engraved with foliate monogram ?JT?, olive-shaped button for the chronograph at 12. Hinged gold cuvette engraved with the observatory details, glazed gold-rimmed cover to view the movement. D. White enamel with radial Roman numerals, outer minute track, outermost chronograph track divided into 1/5th seconds, fi ve-minute/seconds Arabic numerals, subsidiary seconds. Gold spade hands. M. Cal. 44 mm., rhodium-plated, ?fausses cotes? decoration, 21 jewels, counterpoised straight-line lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance with meantime and temperature adjustment screws, blued steel Breguet balance-spring, index regulator. Cuvette signed. Diam. 55.5 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

This watch achieved a 1st Class rating at the Observatory of Geneva timing tests. Watches with 1st Class rating that also have additional complications such as chronograph or repeating are comparatively rare because extra complications can have an adverse effect on the timekeeping of a watch and therefore far fewer achieved the level of accuracy required for observatory testing. The present watch is also in exceptionally good condition with heavy gold case and perfect enamel dial.