Important Watches, Collector's Wristw...

Noga Hilton, Geneva, Jun 14, 2003

LOT 129

Staehli & Brun, Swiss, No. 14414, circa 1910. Fine and very rare 14K gold keyless watch with special patented beat adjustment carriage and special regulator.

CHF 2,500 - 3,500

EUR 1,700 - 2,300 / USD 2,000 - 2,700

Sold: CHF 4,600

C. Four-body, "bassine", back centered with imperial blue enamel initials, gold hinged cuvette. D. White enamel, double sunk, Breguet numerals, outer minute track, subsidiary sunk seconds. Blued steel "spade" hands. M. 41 mm., rhodium-plated, 21 jewels, adjusted to 5 positions and temperature, straight line lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance with Breguet balance spring, patented concave rack and pinion micrometric regulator, special tourbillon-like cage for beat adjustment. Sgned on the movement.Diam. 50 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

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

Notes

To put a watch into beat, i.e. to adjust the position of the impulse roller so that it enters the pallet fork at very precise moments both for the entry and the exit pallets, it is necessary to remove the balance from the watch and to shift the position of the balance spring collet. This operation is tedious and time-consuming. On June 26, 1906, Joseph Brun from Le Chaux-de-Fonds patented US patent o. 824466 a rotating cage securing the balance on the top and holding the stud. Simply by rotating the cage, the watch is easily put into the proper beat. The watch also features an unusual micrometric regulator.