17,825 CHF
Attributed to Louis Richard, Le Locle, circa 1860. Very fine and exceptionally rare 18K gold hunting-cased watch with special constant force escapement. Four-body, “bassine et filets”, both covers chased with stylized scrolling pattern, reeded band. Silvered with applied gold radial Roman numerals, outer minute dot divisions, engine-turned border, center engraved with flowers. Notes The escapement in this watch is one of the most complicated we have seen. Louis Richard, (1812-1875) whose real name was Louis JeanRichard, became an escapement maker and in time became one of the most eminent in the field. In 1839 he invented a constant force escapement, for which he was awarded a gold medal. The locking, impulse and unlocking functions were based on a single triple detent, sometimes called “chicken foot” detent. The present watch features an improved constant force escapement, whose functions are shared between three different detents, which allows for better adjustment and better performance. Here the impulse is delivered via a pivoted detent. The strength of its spring provides constant impulse force. It is wound through the upper part of the double escape wheel which is locked by another pivoted detent. The impulse detent is locked during the free swing of the balance by means of a third pivoted detent, released by the return of the balance.Louis Richard used very characteristic ebauches with distinctively designed center wheel bridge. This, as well as the complexity of
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2003-10-11
