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Lot Essay
This superb quality precision pocket chronometer is both extremely attractive and very well preserved. Remarkably the original signed and numbered certificate and box are still present, together with the spare mainspring and crystal.
The reverse of the certificate details the testing of the movement between 4 and 8 April 1867 showing a variation of between 2 3/10th seconds slow and 1 3/10th seconds fast, the regulation took place in temperatures between 40 and 100 degrees of Fahrenheit.
The present watch is technically highly sophisticated and with a high degree of precision and complication. The two mainspring barrels for the going and independent seconds trains are wound in unison by the crown, the movement is fully jewelled and the wheels of the train are made of gold. The detent chronometer escapement is only used in watches when greater accuracy is required, it is also particularly suitable for watches with centre seconds because there is no recoil action and therefore the seconds hand can advance in very precise steps. This watch can be used to time an event with an accuracy of up to 1/6th second in the same way as a chronograph although without a return-to-zero facility.
This excellent example of fine Swiss watchmaking will delight any connoisseur of horological complications and high precision timekeeping.
The watchmaker Ulysse-Adrien Breting (1812-1891) of LeLocle, Switzerland, produced watches under his own name as well as under Breting Frères together with his brother Jules. They were renowned for their production of chronometer grade movements and movements incorporating tourbillons, jumping seconds and other complications. The firm was awarded a gold medal at the Universal Exhibition in Besançon, France, in 1860, and a fourth prize at the Neuchâtel Observatory for a pocket chronometer with bascule escapement.
The reverse of the certificate details the testing of the movement between 4 and 8 April 1867 showing a variation of between 2 3/10th seconds slow and 1 3/10th seconds fast, the regulation took place in temperatures between 40 and 100 degrees of Fahrenheit.
The present watch is technically highly sophisticated and with a high degree of precision and complication. The two mainspring barrels for the going and independent seconds trains are wound in unison by the crown, the movement is fully jewelled and the wheels of the train are made of gold. The detent chronometer escapement is only used in watches when greater accuracy is required, it is also particularly suitable for watches with centre seconds because there is no recoil action and therefore the seconds hand can advance in very precise steps. This watch can be used to time an event with an accuracy of up to 1/6th second in the same way as a chronograph although without a return-to-zero facility.
This excellent example of fine Swiss watchmaking will delight any connoisseur of horological complications and high precision timekeeping.
The watchmaker Ulysse-Adrien Breting (1812-1891) of LeLocle, Switzerland, produced watches under his own name as well as under Breting Frères together with his brother Jules. They were renowned for their production of chronometer grade movements and movements incorporating tourbillons, jumping seconds and other complications. The firm was awarded a gold medal at the Universal Exhibition in Besançon, France, in 1860, and a fourth prize at the Neuchâtel Observatory for a pocket chronometer with bascule escapement.