Thematic Auction in Geneva:The Evolut...

Hotel Noga Hilton, Geneva, Nov 16, 2002

LOT 338

Non-Magnetic Watch Co., No. 25020, circa 1890.Fine 18K gold keyless, minute repea-ting watch with special balance and balance spring.

CHF 3,000 - 4,500

EUR 2,000 - 3,000

Sold: CHF 4,140

C. four-body, triple-hinged, engine-turned back cover, polished band, gold cuvette. D. white enamel, double sunk, radial Arabic numerals, outer minute-ring with five-minute red Arabic markers, sunk subsidiary seconds. Gold "Louis XV" hands.M. 38.7 mm. (17'''), nickel, bridge caliber, damascened in repeated pattern, straight line calibrated lever escapement, Pail-lard's Patent cut bimetallic compensation balance with palla-dium Breguet balance spring, swan-neck micrometric regulator, wolf-tooth winding wheels, repeating on gongs through acti-vating slide in the band.Signed on dial, case and movement.Diam. 48.5 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

Charles-Auguste Paillardworked with Houriet. In 1876 in Geneva he began experimenting with gold alloys as a material for hairsprings. He finally turned to palladium with which he had become familiar in Brazil where he was sent by his uncle to service marine chronometers. One of the main problems he had to face there were rusty springs. Palladium, which is rust proof, was a subproduct of gold mining and was plentiful there. It is not magnetic and rust proof. The balances fitted with palladium reduce acceleration.In 1886 Paillard was granted British patent No. 6367 for making his palladium (actually palladium/copper) balance spring. His springs became quite popular as soon as they appeared and were imitated from the very beginning.They remained popular until the invention of Guillaume's Elinvar balance springs and Anibal as an alloy for the precision balances.