The Art of Horology in Geneva
Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Nov 13, 1999
LOT 98
J. Ruegger à Genève, No. 11028, circa 1810Fine and very rare 18K gold, quarter repeating watch with an early form of lateral lever escapement.
CHF 10,000 - 12,000
C. Three body, Empire, polished with ribbed band. Hinged gilt brass cuvette. D. White enamel with Breguet numerals. Gold Breguet hands. M. 22''', gilt brass, partly skeletonised three-quarter plate with conical pillars, fusee with chain, early lateral lever escapement with pointed tooth escape wheel, plain gold three-arm balance, blued steel flat balance spring. Repeating on gongs by depressing the pendants.Signed on the cuvette and back plate.Diam. 56 mm.
| Grading System | |
|---|---|
Grade: AAA |
Excellent |
Case: 3 |
Good |
Movement: * 3 |
|
Dial: 3 - 01 |
Notes
This watch was built with the extremely rare lateral lever escapement without "draw", which appears to be the earliest form of lever escapement ever produced in Switzerland It could well be at the origin of the Swiss lateral lever escapement, in the same way the Emery lever escapement, also without "draw", was the precursor of the straight line lever escapement. The only other watch known to exist with a similar escapement was produced by Fs. Jaccotet circa 1790, and it was sold by Antiquorum inGeneva on April 1997, lot 244.Jacques RueggerWatchmaker in Geneva during the first half of the 19th century, he produce watches in gold and in silver, mainly with calendar or repeating work. According to at least two watches set with an early lateral lever escapement made at the turn of the century, one might think that he was the father of E. M. Ruegger, also known to be among the first in Geneva to use the lever escapement, but who was working some twenty years later.