Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P...

Geneva, Hotel Du Rhone, Apr 02, 2006

LOT 400

?Deck Chronomètre? Ulysse Nardin, Locle & Geneve, No. 25426. Made circa 1939. Fine silver, keyless, circuit-break lever chronometer deck watch with power reserve indication and Guillaume balance.

CHF 3,000 - 5,000

108 2,000 - 3,200

Sold: CHF 4,720

C. Four-body, massive, "bassine et filet", polished, silver bolt at 6 to activate the circuit-breaking, insulated and non-insulated silver pins for transmitting the signal. Silver hinged cuvette. D. Matte silvered with radial Roman numerals, outer minute track, subsidiary seconds and 36-hour up-and-down scale. Blued steel "spade" hands. M. 50 mm (22'''), frosted and gilt, 17 jewels, straight line lever escapement, Anibal-brass Guillaume balance, blued steel Breguet balance-spring, swan-neck micrometric regulator, escape wheel pinion fitted with a cam for contact- breaking each second. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 64 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 3-7

Good

Oxidized
Movement: 3-6*

Good

Slightly oxidized

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-7-01

Good

Oxidized

HANDS Original

Notes

In a letter to the US Naval Observatory in 1910, Paul Nardin wrote that between 1883 and 1910 the company made only 50 circuitbreak survey chronometers for scientific institutions worldwide. The circuit-break (Survey) Chronometer was designed for surveying and mapping operations as well as solar observations and scientific experiments in remote areas, requiring accurate, audible time signals. The first circuit-break mechanism was installed in 1874 by the Negus brothers, chronometer makers from New York. Survey chronometers were superbly finished and adjusted, to meet the requirements of the surveying and scientific communities.