Important Watches, Collectors’ Wristw...

Hotel Noga Hilton, Nov 14, 2004

LOT 6

Swiss, circa 1835. Extremely rare and fine 18K gold jump-hour independent dead-seconds Compteur Militaire watch with provision for jumping with different speed.

CHF 6,000 - 8,000

EUR 4,000 - 5,000 / USD 5,000 - 6,500

Sold: CHF 7,475

C. Four-body, ?Empire?, back with engraved initials, reeded band, gilt hinged cuvette, bolt at 4 o clock for start/stop of the dead seconds, pin at 6 for change of the jumping speed. D. Silver, engine-turned, aperture for the jump hours at the top, eccentric minute and dead-seconds chapter below, aperture at 7 for indications of the number of jumps per minute. Gold ?lozenge? hand. M. 44 mm (20'''), frosted gilt, brass caliber, cylinder escapement, three-arm gold balance with flat balance spring.Diam. 50 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 3 - 14
Movement: 3*

Good

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

Notes

The idea of measuring the pace of marching troops by means of a watch was conceived by Breguet. Breguet showed such a watch, made for the Tzar of Russia, at the 1819 Paris Exhibition. This watch performs the same function, yet the technical solution is different, based not on changing the period of the balance but on changing the speed of the independent dead seconds. Such watches are very rare.