7,475 CHF
Joseph Jeune, Delémont (Switzerland), circa 1810. Fine and extremely rare silver watch with special calibre and highly unusual escapement. Double body, Empire, polished with reeded band. White enamel with Breguet numerals. Blued steel "serpent" hands. Hinged frosted and gilt full plate with cylindrical pillars, going barrel passing through the back plate, the gilt cap engraved with a star and foliage, highly unusual form of single pallet pin-wheel escapement, plain brass three-arm balance, flat balance spring, pierced and engraved gilt brass cock with polished steel end-piece. The back plate with three large cut away sectors showing the escapement. Signed on the back plate. In very good condition. Diam. 57 mm. Notes An ingenious escapement probably inspired by the pin-wheel escapement, invented for clocks by Amant and improved by Lepaute but rarely used in watches. Jeune's version of the escapement, which was easier to make that the Amant/Lepaute version, was apparently never used by other makers. The only other watch of this type known to exist is also by Jeune. It is very similar to that now offered for sale, the main difference being the balance cock and the form of the cut-out sectors on the back plate.
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
1995-10-21
