A chronometer escapement combined with an à tact device on a watch with double calendar from that period are features certainly unique. This watch was certainly made on special request. Henri-Robert Ekegrén, (1823-1896)Henri-Robert Ekegrén, was the son of Daniel Ekegrén, of Swedish origin, who had settled, and married a Danish wife, in Copenhagen. Though a skilful watchmaker, he devoted himself to merchandising clocks, watches and works of art. Henri-Robert, at the early age of twelve, and while he was still a schoolboy, became interested and skilful in watchmaking and engraving. After his apprenticeship, and already equipped with the Swedish, Danish and German languages, he obtained a government fellowship totravel to other watchmaking countries. During a winter he worked for his fellow countryman, Jules Jürgensen, at Locle. In London, he worked for a well-known firm and acquired a command of English. In Paris, he worked for the celebrated Winnerl and had for a close friend Adolph Länge.In 1847, he arrived at his longed-for destination, Geneva. There he worked the first year with Henri Golay, an expert watch finisher. The following ten years he worked with Golay-Leresche where he did finishing, repairing, timing, and waited on customers, for which he was well equipped with his command of five languages. In 1857, deciding that it was time to benefit from his experiences, he formed a partnership with Ferdinand Westermann, who had the necessary capital. Mr. Ekegrén took as his firt understudy a young man, Louis Chevalier, who had been at the Geneva School of Horology. Chevalier remained with him for thirty-seven years. At the end of five years Mr. Westermann withdrew to seek a climate agreeable to his health. Mr. Ekegrén served several years on a committee to reorganize the School of Horology, that it might serve the manufacturing interests of Geneva.At the Exhibition of 1867, he displayed thirty-six beautiful watches of his designs which won him the gold medal and a report from Professor Wartman which brought him honour and new clients. Subsequent exhibitions - Vienna in 1873, Paris in 1875, Philadelphia in 1876, Paris again in 1878, and Zurich in 1883 - brought him, as well as his collaborator, Louis Chevalier further honours and recognition. The competitions in trials by the Society of Arts, and later the Observatory of Geneva, gave his wtches very high ratings. He was one of the first régleurs to apply the theories of Phillips.He made no striking inventions but constantly worked to improve each detail and to make a product of the highest merit. His success is evidenced by the high esteem in which his watches are held in Europe and America even to the present day.lector