Etienne Chavane. A fine and early silver Puritan pre-hairspring verge watch
Lot 49

Etienne Chavane. A fine and early silver Puritan pre-hairspring verge watch

SIGNED ETIENNE CHAVANE, CIRCA 1660/1670

Closed15 November 2010

Price Realised

CHF 25,000

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Etienne Chavane. A fine and early silver Puritan pre-hairspring verge watch
Signed Etienne Chavane, circa 1660/1670
Gilt-finished chain fusée verge movement, finely chased, engraved and pierced floral decorated balance cock and foot, steel two-armed pre-hairspring balance wheel, worm set-up with blued steel decorative mounts, silver regulation dial, turned baluster pillars, finely scroll decorated gilt dial plate, silver dial with engraved and blacked Roman numerals, fleur-de-lys half-hour divisions, finely engraved and blackened lakeside scene to the centre, single blued steel hand, plain circular case, winding hole slide cover, split bezel with seven-piece hinge, movement signed
37 mm. diam.

Specialist note

The present watch is a fine example of a so-called "Puritan" watch, referring to the simplicity of its appearance, supposedly in character with the Puritan austerity.

The silver dial is easy to read and the double-ended hour hand allows it to be moved with the fingers easily and without damages.

Etienne Chavane, Geneva 1640 - 27 April 1721
The master watchmaker Etienne Chavane or Chavanne was active from the mid 17th century and trained several other watchmakers. He was the brother of Huyues and Moise Chavane, both also master watchmakers in Geneva.