Lebet & Fils. A rare ultra slim 18K gold openface partly skeletonized cylinder watch with Bagnolet calibre

SIGNED LEBET & FILS, BUTTES, CASE NOS. 1519 AND 4, CIRCA 1850

Details

Lebet & Fils. A rare ultra slim 18K gold openface partly skeletonized cylinder watch with Bagnolet calibre
Signed Lebet & Fils, Buttes, case nos. 1519 and 4, circa 1850
Finely engraved floral and scroll decorated nickel-finished Bagnolet calibre movement, ruby cylinder escapement, female keywinding, movement partially visible through the skeletonized centre of the dial, white enamel chapter ring, Roman numerals, blued steel moon-style hands, outer minute divisions, ultra slim circular case, finely "taille douce" engraved scroll and foliage decorated bezel and back, movement signed, case stamped with case maker's mark CLD
45 mm. diam.

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Lot Essay

Lebet & Fils, active from around 1835 to 1860, were specialized in ultra slim watches fitted with Bagnolet calibre movements. The cases were often engraved in "taille-douce" manner.

The so-called "Bagnolet" or "inverted" calibre with cylinder escapement and with the gear train underneath the dial as opposed to in the bottom plate was developed around 1840 by Philippe-Samuel Meylan. As of the mid 19t century, these ultra thin movements were also used in gold coins. The flattest Bagnolet calibres do not exceed a millimetre and a half in height, insignificantly less than the present movement and its width of approx. 2 millimetres.

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