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Lot Essay
This fine and very attractive watch by the celebrated French maker Ferdinand Berthoud is preserved in excellent condition, the enamel remains undamaged and unrestored even after 220 years. In addition, lavish use of pearls enhances the richness of the gold case.
The construction of the movement unsurprisingly for Berthoud as such an eminent maker, is constructed in a special way so that the watch could be made as thin and elegant as possible. The third wheel, contrate wheel, crown wheel and potence adjustment of the train and verge escapement are set within a cut-out in the frontplate, the wheels being secured by a separate bridge, the backplate is cut out level with the top of the mainspring barrel and fusée, these also being secured by a separate plate. The overall effect is that the thickness of the movement is reduced substantially from that of a standard verge movement thereby giving the watch a total thickness of only 17 mm.
The construction of the movement unsurprisingly for Berthoud as such an eminent maker, is constructed in a special way so that the watch could be made as thin and elegant as possible. The third wheel, contrate wheel, crown wheel and potence adjustment of the train and verge escapement are set within a cut-out in the frontplate, the wheels being secured by a separate bridge, the backplate is cut out level with the top of the mainspring barrel and fusée, these also being secured by a separate plate. The overall effect is that the thickness of the movement is reduced substantially from that of a standard verge movement thereby giving the watch a total thickness of only 17 mm.