The Longitude at the Eve of the Third...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 23, 1999

LOT 168

Girard-Perregaux, Chaux-de-Fonds, No. 49042,made in 1869.Very fine silver pocket chronometer, in original ebonised fitted box.

CHF 8,000 - 10,000

C. Four body, massive, "bassine et filets, carrure rondes" with engine-turned flat back and ribbed band. Hinged silver cuvette with engine-turned border. D. White enamel with Roman numerals, outer Arabic minute ring and sunk subsidiary seconds. 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, two-arm compensation balance with gold poising weights and timing screws,ree sprung blued steel spherical balance spring, diamond end-stone.Signed on the dial cuvette and movement.Diam. 55 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 3

Good
Movement: * 3
Dial: 3 - 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. Hof& 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.