The Art of Horology in Geneva

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Nov 13, 1999

LOT 117

Jeannot à Genève, No. 19744, circa 1860.Very fine 18K gold pocket chronometer.

CHF 5,000 - 6,000

Sold: CHF 7,475

C. Four body, massive, "pommes et filets" with engine-turned flat back and ribbed band. Hinged gold engine-turned cuvette. D. Silver engine-turned with Roman numerals, outer minute ring and sunk subsidiary seconds, engraved with floral ornaments, centre and border with gold cast foliage "grippé" decoration. Gold paste-set hands. M. 19''', nickel plated, Hoff calibre with fusee and chain, maintaining power, gold wheel train, 15 jewels, pivoted detent escapement with steel escape wheel, cut bimetalic balance, free sprung blued steel helical balance spring with terminal curves.Signed on the dial cuvette and movement.Diam. 55 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 4 - 3 - 6
Movement: * 4 - 5 -
Dial: 4 - 5 - 01

Notes

According to the catalogue of the exhibition: Le Tourbillon, Prouesse Technique des Horlogers - Hier et Aujourd'hui, Musée International d'Horlogerie, La Chaux-de-Fonds, June 7 to September 29, 1996, p. 11, the ebauche of this chronometer is typical of the top quality precision movements from the second part of the 19th century. It was used by most of the makers, for pocket chronometers with detent escapement or with tourbillon regulators. On several pieces, the presence of the signature:W. Hoff & Fils, on the front plate, beneath the dial, enables one to think that Wilhelm Hoff used to supply such ebauches which were subsequently fitted with a pivoted or a spring detent escapement, or even a tourbillon regulator.