The Longitude at the Eve of the Third...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 23, 1999

LOT 36

Dumas, No. 27, circa 1840.Very fine mahogany, 49 hour going marine chronometer with power reserve indicator. One of the earliest ever made by Dumas with his own calibre.

CHF 15,000 - 18,000

C. Three body mahogany with external brass handles, glazed upper section with hinged lid. Brass bowl and gimballed suspension. D. Silvered dial with Roman numerals, subsidiary seconds and Up-and-Down scale. Blued steel Breguet hands. M. Brass spotted finished full plate with conical pillars secured by screws, fusee with chain and maintaining power, Earnshaw type spring detent escapement, four-arm compensation balance with wedged weights and timing screws. Free sprung blued steel conical balancepring.Signed on the dial and back plate.Dial diam. 82 mm.Dim. 16 x 16 x 16,5 cm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 4

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

Notes

This chronometer is almost certainly one of the very first ever made by Dumas with his own calibre, the No. 24 being still made with the Motel calibre (see previous lot). It is also remarkable by the fact that it still retains different features such as the four-arm compensation balance and the conical balance spring, characteristic of Motel's work. The mahogany box with its gimbal suspension and the bezel are also identical to that used by Motel at the same period. However, this chronometer, bult from a full plate calibre and already fitted with an Earnshaw type spring detent escapement, is clearly inspired by the English production. This full plate calibre, the back plate secured by screws, was not only sturdy and reliable, but also less expensive to produce than the luxurious and most elegant calibre used by Henri Motel. It was soon named: calibre Dumas and adopted by most French chronometer makers.