Exceptional Horological Works of Art

Geneva, Oct 19, 2002

LOT 69

Ch. H. Grosclaude & Co., Fleurier, circa 1870. Fine 18K gold hunting-cased double-train independent dead seconds, quarter-seconds diablotine watch with 12-hour register and thermometer.

CHF 12,000 - 14,000

EUR 8,000 - 10,000

Sold: CHF 41,400

C. Four-body, "bassine et filets", engine-turned, gold hinged cuvette, pin at one o?clock to activate the second train. D. White enamel, eccentric Roman numeral hour and minute chapter set at 3 o?clock, at 9 o?clock dead seconds register, subsidiary dial for the quarter-seconds diablotine at 6 o?clock, at 12 o?clock the thermometer, outermost, a fifth-seconds track for the independent seconds hand. Blued steel Breguet hands. M. 45 mm. (20???), frosted gilt, 25 jewels, straight line calibrated lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance with blued steel Breguet balance spring, independent seconds controlled by extra wheel set on the escape wheel arbor meshing with a dart set on the last arbor of the independent seconds train. Signed on the cuvette. Diam. 56 mm.


LOADING IMAGES
Click to full view
Image
Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 3 - 14
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3 - 6 - 01

Notes

The cuvette is inscribed with a medal received at the Universal London Exposition in 1862. See also lot No. 48. Ch. H. Grosclaude was the most important chronometer maker in the Val-de-Travers. His reputation was established by his pocket chronometers, and especially by his marine chronometers, a field that not many other Swiss horologists explored. At the London Universal Exhibitions of 1851 and 1862, he obtained medals for his watches. He was known to make independent seconds watches based on a special mechanism, in which both trains ran from the same mainspring (similar to Breguet). Between 1860 and 1870 he submitted a number of marine chronometers to the Neuchâtel Observatory Trials, where he obtained five special awards for adjustment, winning the first prize in 1870. In 1865 he registered the company?s name, adding that of his son James. He probably died in the 1870?s, as in 1883 the company was listed under the name of James Grosclaude.