The Art of Horology in Geneva

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Nov 13, 1999

LOT 182

Touchon & Co., Genève, No. 4886, Swiss, circa 1900.Fine 18K gold, keyless minute repeating watch with split-seconds chronograph and 30-minute progressive recorder.

CHF 9,000 - 11,000

C. Four body, massive, "bassine", polished. Hinged gold cuvette engraved with a dedication dated 1903. D. White enamel with Arabic numerals, outer red Arabic minute and chronograph rings, sunk subsidiary seconds and minute register. Blued steel "spade" hands. M. 17''', nickel plated, "fausses côtes" decoration, 32 jewels, straight line lever escapement, cut bimetallic balance, Breguet balance spring with swan neck micrometric index. Repeating on gongs with slide in the band. Split-seconds chronoraph with visible work and push-piece in the band.Signed on the dial and movement.Diam. 49 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3 - 5
Movement: * 3
Dial: 3 - 01

Notes

Touchon & Co.Watch manufacture which was first established in Sécheron and later in Petit-Saconnex (districts of Geneva), and later at 1, place de la Fusterie. The trademark was registered on February 2, 1907, under No. 21652. The manufacture, which produced high quality watches, merged with Agassiz Watch Co. S.A., in order to launch on the market extra slim watches of 16 1/2'''- 17/12th, 15/12th, 10/12th, and even of 10'''- 10/12. This latter movement, fitted in its case, could be concealed into a 20 dollarcoin and was awarded the Gold Medal at the Paris Exhibition in 1889 and, in 1910, received the highest distinction in Brussels. The company produced these watches for Tiffany. In 1921, Touchon entered into partnership with Wittnauer, under the new company name of Wittnauer & Cie., for the production of watches and spare parts, and moved premises to 4, rue du Mont-Blanc until 1924.