The Longitude at the Eve of the Third...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 23, 1999

LOT 23

Charles Oudin à Paris, circa 1830.Fine and very rare small marine chronometer with a highly unusual escapement.

CHF 25,000 - 30,000

Sold: CHF 27,600

C. Double body mahogany box with slide on the lid over the observation aperture. Brass gimbals with a lead-weighted bowl. D. Frosted silvered, regulator type with small eccentric Roman chapter for hours, symmetrical subsidiary seconds below and outer Arabic minute ring on the border of the bezel. Blued-steel Breguet hands. M. Frosted and gilt brass full plate with steel conical pillars secured by nuts with washers in the manner of Louis Berthoud, the fusee with maintaining power, resting-wheel vrge escapement with steel crown wheel and steel pallets on the balance staff, two-arm compensation balance with poising and timing screws, free-sprung blued-steel helical balance spring.Signed on the dial.Dial diam. 66 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 4

Fair
Movement: * 4 - 5
Dial: 4 - 6 - 01

Notes

The calibre chosen for the movement of this chronometer, like the quality of execution, may be compared with those of Louis Berthoud. The escapement is similar to those used by Breguet for some of his watches for civil purposes in which the verge nonetheless had ruby paletes. One may well ask why Oudin should have fitted a chronometer with a frictional-rest escapement. Probably this was an experimental piece, intended for the study of the escapement so as to compare it with the going of chronomeers with free escapements.This escapement is described and illustrated by George Daniels in The Art of Breguet, p. 314, fig. 393.Charles Oudin, pupil of Breguet and one of his best foremen, devised the equation of time to fit the Montres de souscription.He was established in business on his own in the Palais Royal, Galerie de Pierre from circa 1804 to 1825, and was succededby his son who transfered the firm to Galerie Montpensier1830-1840 and subsequently took Détouche into partnership.A. Charpentier was successor to Oudin Fils, son of Charleswith the signature: Charles Oudin à Paris, Horloger deL.L. M.M., l'Empereur et l'Impératrice de Russie. To accompany the display at the 1862 Exhibition in London, Oudin-Charpentier produced a book entitled: Catalogue of Chief Exhibits by Oudin-Charpentier, principal clockmaker to their Majesties The Queen and King of Spain and to the Imperial Navy. Considering the quality of his work, it is surprising that so little is recorded about his life.