Thematic Auction in Geneva:The Evolut...

Hotel Noga Hilton, Geneva, Nov 16, 2002

LOT 340

Henry Capt, Genève, No. 40797, circa 1880.Very fine, rare, and important 18K gold, key-less, astronomical, moon phase, perpetual calen-dar, minute-repeating split-seconds chronograph pocket chronometer with 30-minute register.

CHF 48,000 - 57,000

EUR 32,000 - 38,000

Sold: CHF 63,250

C. Four-body, Solid, "bassine et filets", engine-turned, back cover with engraved initials, gold hinged cuvette.D. White enamel, radial Roman numerals, outer minute/seconds divisions with red Arabic five-minute/seconds markers, four subsidiary dials for days of the week, date, months, concentric with four-year leap cycle and small seconds, aperture for enameled phases of the moon on a gold base at 12 o'clock concentric with minute register. Gold "spade" hands. M. 43 mm. (18'''), nickel, "fausses côtes" decoration, 37 jewels, straight line calibrated lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance, bued steel Breguet balance-spring, chronograph and split mechanism set on the back plate, pin-set, repeating on gongs through activating slide in the band.Signed on dial, case and movement.Diam. 54 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

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

Notes

Henry CaptAn important and highly esteemed firm, originally established by Henry Daniel Capt (1773- 1843). In 1844 the firm was taken over by Henry's son Henri Capt at Fusterie 85. In 1851 it moved to 174 rue du Rhône. In the late 1870's the firm was bought by Gallopin. In 1878-9, the Henri Capt firm won the first prize at the Geneva Observatory. In 1882 they received another first prize for a watch with a palladium balance-spring, the first prize recorded as having been awarded for a watch with such a sping. He was the first Swiss maker to compete in the Kew Observatory Contests.