Achard. A very fine and rare 18K gold openface keywound watch with dead centre seconds, stop feature and virgule escapement

In exceptional condition and of superb quality with perfect enamel dial, the present watch is not only a beautiful example of the restrained and elegant Directoire style, in addition it is a horological rarity. The virgule escapement was never widely used because of its extreme delicacy and the difficulty of its construction, therefore watches with this escapement were made in small numbers and even fewer survive today. In the present watch, Achard’s use of the virgule escapement enables the centre seconds to move at one-second intervals instead of a sweeping action. Georges and Jean-François Achard were a father and son partnership working in Geneva, their association ended in 1796.