The Longitude at the Eve of the Third...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 23, 1999

LOT 55

Unsigned, Swiss, the tourbillon by Ernest Guinand, Locle, made for the Spanish Market, circa 1880.Fine and early 18K pink gold hunting-cased, pocket chronometer, with one minute tourbillon regulator.

CHF 90,000 - 110,000

C. Five body massive, "Bassine et filets", polished, made by R. Waldvogel. Hinged gold cuvette. D. Gold engine turned with cast varicoloured gold foliage decoration, Roman numerals and subsidiary seconds. Blued steel "fleurs de lys" hands. M. 19''' nickel plated, Geneva "fausses côtes" decoration, caliber in the form of conjoined initials, 12 jewels on the carriage, pivoted detent escapement with gold escape wheel, cut bimetallic balance, Breguet balance spring with index regulator. Ernest Guinad's three-arm polished steel carriage of the second type, driven by the third wheel.Diam. 53 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3

Good
Movement: * 4 - 5
Dial: 3 - 21 - 04

Notes

Made with a calibre similar to that of Guinand No. 3321, sold by Antiquorum in Hong Kong, on 18 June 1994, but nickel plated instead of engraved gilt brass, this chronometer was certainly completed by the time of his death, if not by his successors.Ernest Guinand, from Le Locle (Switzerland), who died in 1879, together with Auguste Grether from Ponts-de-Martel (1817-1879), was specialised in the production of tourbillon carriages. His production of tourbillon began in 1865/67, they were controlled in Neuchâtel.He produced three models of Tourbillon carriages. He worked for several important makers including Girard-Perregaux and Montandon. It seems that No. 1060, sold to Girard-Perregaux, was the first, but does not carry his signature. From the study of the Observatory of Neuchatel records, the number of tourbillons supplied to Girard-Perregaux can be esteemed between 22 and 25. Most of his carriages were not signed and can only be identified by their shape as in the following sketches: