Important Watches, Collectors’ Wristw...

Hotel Noga Hilton, Nov 14, 2004

LOT 43

Jacques-Frédéric Houriet, No. 90, circa 1825. Very fine and rare silver pocket chronometer with Earnshaw type spring detent escapement and Réaumur thermometer.

CHF 50,000 - 70,000

EUR 30,000 - 45,000 / USD 40,000 - 55,000

Sold: CHF 55,200

C. Three-body, massive, by ?M.F.?, ?bassine et filets?, polished. Hinged gilt brass cuvette engraved with technical details. D. White enamel with radial Roman numerals, outer minute ring, temperature sector at 12, subsidiary seconds. Blued steel Breguet hands. M. 53.4 mm, frosted gilt, three-quarter plate, with cylindrical pillars secured by screws, the back plate recessed for the barrel secured by a bridge, the fusee with chain and Harrison?s maintaining power, gold train, 16 jewels, Earnshaw-type spring detent escapement, two-arm compensation balance with two wedged sliding weights, the rim with graduation for easy temperature adjustment, two gold timing screws, 21,600 beats per hour, ?later? free-sprung blued-steel helical balance spring.Numbered and punched with Houriet?s mark ?FH? on the pillar plate under the dial.Diam. 62 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3 - 6 - 01

Notes

The watch features all the characteristics of Houriet?s work; the watchmaker was sometimes called ?the Swiss Breguet?. The escapement is superbly finished with a large balance graduated on the top rim for temperature adjustment. The depth of the engagement for the locking jeweled pin and the escape wheel is micrometrically controlled by a special U-shaped steel bracket, the wheel train is made of gold, and in addition, the watch is fitted with the bimetallic thermometer invented by Houriet. For a biography, see page 54.