Signed B. Haas Jne & Cie, Breveté, Chronomètre Répétition à Minutes Quantième, no. 1421, circa 1880

Rarely seen on the market today, this impressive example of the very attractive “double dial” minute repeating watch by Haas of Geneva is not only high quality but surprisingly complicated. The movement has separate wheel trains for the going of the watch and for the jump centre seconds mechanism, both spring barrels are wound by the same crown but in different directions. This system of separate trains for each function allows the seconds to be started and stopped via a lever without affecting or stopping the timekeeping function of the watch, hence it is known as “independent seconds”. This watch can, in other words be used in the same way as a chronograph to time an event, however, without a chronograph mechanism the seconds hand cannot be returned to zero or the elapsed seconds recorded. The back cover opens to reveal a calendar ring with hand driven by the movement.
This fascinating and unusual watch successfully combines both watchmaking prowess and aesthetics and is a worthy addition to a collection of fine watches.

Haas & Cie. was founded by Leopold and Benjamin Haas in 1848 and manufactured from the beginning small series of gold or platinum watches featuring the classical complications such as perpetual calendars, quarter repeaters, chronographs and split-second chronographs. Over the years, new family members joined the company and consequently it was renamed to Haas Neveux & Cie. in 1884. In the same year, Haas launched a highly innovative pocket watch with a movement that was wound by opening and closing of the cover. This mechanism was further developed and patented and presented at the 1893 Chicago World Exhibition.