The Private Collection of Theodor Beyer

Hotel Baur Au Lac, Zurich, Nov 16, 2003

LOT 73

Frederic Courvoisier, La Chaux-de-Fonds, No. 49886, carriage by Ernest Guinand, circa 1854. Exceptionally fine and rare 18K gold hunting-cased keyless pocket chronometer, with one-minute tourbillon regulator with pivoted detent escapement and amplitude-controlling device.

CHF 80,000 - 120,000

EUR 52,000 - 78,000 / USD 60,000 - 89,000

Sold: CHF 223,500

C. Five-body, all hinged, "bassine et filets", engine-turned, gold hinged cuvette. D. White enamel, radial Roman numerals, outer minute track, subsidiary sunk seconds. Elaborate pierced blued steel hands. M. 44 mm (19 1/2'''), nickel, La Chaux-de-Fonds school ebauche, "fausses côtes" decoration on the pillar plate, bridges damascened in a wavy pattern, wolf-tooth winding wheels, gold train, Guinand 2 type carriage (Meis classification) with pivoted detent chronometer escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance with gold screws, Breguet blued steel balance spring with perpendicular stud for preventing excessive amplitudes, index regulator with gold scale plate, 18,000 beats per hour, entire train jeweled.Signed on the dial and the movement. Movement, case, and dial with the same number, case punched with La Chaux-de-Fonds gold guarantee mark.Diam. 55 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-12-01

Good

Worn

HANDS Original

Notes

Courvoisier's success was to a large extent due to the high quality of his watches. On October 20, 1991 Antiquorum sold, as lot 354, another of his tourbillons from about 1850 with 3-arm equidistant carriage with pivoted detent escapement, which appears to be one of the earliest made in Switzerland with a straight-arm carriage-later to be a favorite of the famous Albert Favre-Pellaton. Courvoisier was apparently ahead of his time on this occasion. Ernest Guinand (c. 1810-1879). He was an important Master Horologist from Le Locle, who, along with Auguste Grether from Ponts-de-Martel 1817-1879, specialized in the production of tourbillon carriages. According to the records of the Neuchâtel Observatory, Guinand's production of tourbillons began between 1865 and 1867. He designed three models of Tourbillon carriages, always based on an A-shaped frame. He worked for several important makers, including Girard-Perregaux and Montandon. The Observatory of Neuchâtel records indicate that the number of tourbillons supplied to Girard-Perregaux can be estimated at between 22 and 25. Most were equipped with a pivoted detent escapement, one with spring detent and some with lever escapement. Most of his carriages were not signed and can only be identified by their characteristic A-shape.