Louis Berthoud a Paris, No. 2521, sold to Mr. Blanchard de Pigou, on the 20 March 1791, for 60 Louis. Fine and very rare 18K gold, quarter dumb repeating pocket chronometer. | Important Watches, Wristwatches and Clocks | Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, 12th April 1997

Important Watches, Wristwatches and C...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Apr 12, 1997

LOT 227

Louis Berthoud a Paris, No. 2521, sold to Mr. Blanchard de Pigou, on the 20 March 1791, for 60 Louis. Fine and very rare 18K gold, quarter dumb repeating pocket chronometer.

CHF 13,000 - 15,000

C. Double body, polished, No. 199 by Joly (Master Mark), with Paris hallmarks for 1789. D. White enamel by Morimont (signed on the enamel backing), with Breguet numerals and subsidiary seconds (slightly restored). Blued steel Breguet hands with skeletonised tips. M. Gilt brass, full plate inverted, with cylindrical pillars secured by screws, fusee with chain and maintaining power, later spring detent escapement, plain brass three-arm balance beneath the dial, flat balance spring with bimetallic compensation curb on the index. Repeating on the case by depressing the pendant. Signed on the dial and back plate. In good condition. Diam. 53 mm.

LOADING IMAGES

Image

Notes

Previously the the collection of the Time Museum, Rockford, Illinois, U.S.A., it is described by Anthony Randall in The Catalogue of Chronometers in the 7doe 114useson,, page 86, entry No. 18. It was sold by Sotheby's in New York on 11 December 1986, lot No. 186. Originally made with the typical Louis Berthoud ' s pivoted decent escapement, the escapement was replaced by a spring detent escapement toward the middle of the XIXth century, but the original escape wheel was preserved.