M. Pouzait Inv

M. Pouzait Inv. et Fec. a Geneve, No. 2014, 12/782. Extremely fine and almost certainly unique extra large 181 gold, centre-seconds, demonstration stopwatch with eccentric dial and early Pouzait lever escapement with extra large seconds beating balance. Double body, massive, Louis XVI, engine-turned with glazed back. Gold engine-turned by A. Doroit, dated 14-12-1782 (signed on the reverse) with eccentric small, hour and minute Roman chapter ring, centre-seconds ring on the border of the bezel with Arabic numerals. Gold Louis XV hands and serpent counterpoised seconds hand. Hinged gilt brass full plate with cylindrical pillars, fusee with chain, counterpoised Pouzait lever escapement with divided lift, plain gold five-arm balance covering 93% of the back plate, free sprung flat balance spring, gilt brass balance cock with polished steel end-piece. Signed on the dial. Diam. 81 mm. Diam. of the balance: 50 mm. Notes The safety action, as shown on the drawing, is performed by the pin G outside the ring N, in one direction, and inside the ring, in the other. This watch, which is dated December 1782, according to its extra large size and its glazed back, was undoubtedly made by Molise Pouzait as a demonstration piece for his newly invented lever escapement. It can be assumed that his intention was to present it to the Societe des Arts de Geneve, in the same way that he did for his dead independent seconds mechanism on 9 May 1776. However, by the time the watch was completed, Read more…