Perrin Freres

Perrin Freres, Swiss, circa 1820. Fine and very rare silver skeletonized early minute-repeating watch with visible works. Double-body, "Directoire", polished, hinged glazed gilt brass cuvette. White enamel chapter ring with Breguet numerals. Blued steel "Breguet" hands. 45 mm., gilt brass, engraved and skeletonized with gold wheel train, the barrel with gilt brass cap pierced and engraved with foliage, pin lever escapement, plain three-arm steel balance, flat balance-spring with regulator, polished steel balance cock with ruby endstone. Repeating on blued steel and polished serpent-shaped gongs by plunge in the pendant, visible repeating work set on back and pillar plates.Cuvette signed.Diam. 63 mm. Notes This watch employs a very unusual lever escapement with the lift on the pallets, a pinned escape wheel, and T-shaped impulse pin. In 1805 Antoine Tavan of Geneva presented his famous series of lever escapements with pin-wheel escapement. This escapement is substantially different-the lift on the lever is achieved by two pallets having circular resting surfaces which assure no recoil. The safety action is facilitated by an additional long lever fixed to the arbor. The action gives good impulse in both directions and the construction is very simple.Very few of this type of watch fitted with a minute-repeating mechanism are known to exist, the addition of the pin-wheel lever escapement mark this watch as an exceptional piece.