Live Auction 1366Important Watches
Anon. A rare and unusual 18K gold keywound openface pocket chronometer watch with chain fusée and one minute tourbillon
Lot 262

Anon. A rare and unusual 18K gold keywound openface pocket chronometer watch with chain fusée and one minute tourbillon

SWISS, PROBABLY LE LOCLE, CASE STAMPED TS AND NUMBERED 25'846, MOVEMENT NUMBERED 48'242 UNDERNEATH THE DIAL, CIRCA 1865

Closed11 May 2009

Price Realised

CHF 37,500

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Anon. A rare and unusual 18K gold keywound openface pocket chronometer watch with chain fusée and one minute tourbillon
Swiss, probably Le Locle, case stamped TS and numbered 25'846, movement numbered 48'242 underneath the dial, circa 1865
Three quarter plate gilt-finished movement, chain fusée, polished steel one minute tourbillon carriage with curved arms, spring detent escapement with gold escape wheel, bimetallic compensation balance, free sprung regulator, finely engraved floral and foliage decorated balance cock, glazed dust over, white enamel dial, Roman numerals, outer red Arabic five minute divisions, paste-set arrow hands, subsidiary seconds, circular plain case, ribbed bezel and rim, unsigned
52 mm. diam.

Specialist note

The distinctive shape of the movement's plate and the tourbillon carriage with three curved arms are very similar to the one described and illustrated in Reinhard Meis' Das Tourbillon, p. 122, Z77 & 78.
It is furthermore most noteworthy to mention that the present watch and the one referred above in literature have very nearby movement numbers, 48'242 and 48'245 respectively. One can safely assume that they have been finished by the same master watchmaker, a conclusion supported by the comparable engraving on the tourbillon bridge and the very similar overall movement finish.