Important Collector's Watches, Pocket...

Geneva, Nov 11, 2007

LOT 35

?Quarter-Repeating, Independent Dead-Center Seconds? Poitevin Fabricant, No. 6890, retailed by Louis Raby, Hger de l?Empereur, No. 17 Boulevard des Italiens, Paris, No. 1281. Made circa 1860. Very fine and unusual, heavy, quarter-repeating, two-train, hunting-cased, 18K yellow gold pocket watch with independent dead-center seconds.

C. Four-body, "bassine et filets", heavy, cast and chased, the front cover decorated with a foliate monogram "AC" in relief within a foliate border, the cast back cover decorated with a hunting trophy in relief within a foliate border, cast foliate band, bolt for the center seconds at 7. Hinged gold cuvette. D. White enamel with narrow radial Roman numerals, outer minute and seconds track. Gold "Breguet" hour and minute hands, blued steel center seconds hand. M. 42 mm., 19''', frosted gilt, twotrain, 37 jewels, 2 gold endcaps, straight-line counterpoised lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance with gold screws, blued steel Breguet balance spring, index regulator, independent seconds train, repeating on gongs activated by a slide on the band. Dial and cuvette signed by the retailer. Diam. 50 mm.