FRÉDÉRIC COURVOISIER. AN EXCEPTIONALLY FINE AND VERY RARE 18K GOLD HUNTER CASE KEYLESS ONE-MINUTE TOURBILLON POCKET CHRONOMETER WITH PIVOTED DETENT ESCAPEMENT AND AMPLITUDE-CONTROLLING DEVICE, CARRIAGE BY ERNEST GUINAND

Of exceptionally high finish throughout, the present one-minute tourbillon simply exudes quality, the heavy gold hunting case and superb crisp white enamel dial, its technical excellence and attention to detail is evident in the movement with wolf’s tooth winding wheels and gold wheel train.

Guinand’s magnificently designed ’Type 2’ tourbillon carriage is fitted with a pivoted detent chronometer escapement and the interesting and sophisticated feature to the blued steel balance spring of an ‘amplitude limiting device’, a perpendicular stud placed at a right angle on the outer coil of the spring for preventing excessive amplitudes.

For a drawing of his 'Type 2' carriage see Reinhard Meis, Das Tourbillon, 1990, p. 43.

Frédéric-Alexandre Courvoisier, also known as Fritz Courvoisier, was born in La Chaux-de-Fonds on 1 June 1799, the son of Louis Courvoisier and Julie Houriet, both members of reputable watch dynasties. A very talented watchmaker, he was also a member of parliament and involved in the peaceful revolution of 1 March 1848, which liberated the Canton of Neuchâtel from Prussian rule. To promote his timepieces for export, he travelled extensively in Europe, Russia, Egypt and Turkey.

The Musée International d’Horlogerie in La Chaux-de-Fonds owns several pieces made by Frédéric-Alexandre Courvoisier.

Ernest Guinand (c.1810-1879) was an important master watchmaker from Le Locle, who, together with the famous Auguste Grether, specialized in the production of tourbillon carriages. Guinand supplied his tourbillons to renowned watchmakers such as Girard-Perregaux and Montandon. Study of the records of the Neuchâtel Observatory shows that Guinand’s production of tourbillons probably began between 1865 and 1867. He designed three models of tourbillon carriages, always based on an A-shaped frame. The Observatory of Neuchâtel records indicate that the number of tourbillons that Guinand supplied to Girard-Perregaux is something between 22 and 25. Most were fitted with a pivoted detent escapement. Although Guinand’s carriages were rarely signed, they are easily identified by their distinctive A-shaped frames.