15,525 CHF
Timekeeper with 1 ComplicationJaques Girod, (Coppet) Genève, circa 1680. Fine and very rare pair-cased gilt metal single-hand watch with alarm and early balance spring. Outer: two-body, leather-covered brass. Inner: gilt brass, two-body, "bassine", florally pierced and engraved band, polished back, turned pendant, loose ring. Gilt brass, champlevé Roman hour chapter on matte ground with inner quarter-hour ring, center with rotating alarm disc with Arabic numerals and blued steel fleur-de-lis single pointer. Blued steel "arrow" alarm setting hand. 38,5 mm, gilt full plate mounted to hinged dial plate, four vase pillars, fusee and chain, verge escapementwith plain three-arm steel balance and short 2 1/4-turn balance spring, symmetrical trefoil gilt cock with short foot secured by a screw, Tompion type regulator, ratchet wheel and click mainspring set-up, regular four-wheel train, steel alarm train driven from fixed barrel pierced and engraved with floral pattern, striking on a bell on both sides of a short oval cantilevered hammer.Signed on the back plate.Diam. 54 mm. Notes A rare example of an early application of the balance spring, shortly after its invention by Huygens in 1675, as well as an early Swiss application of the fusee chain. Girod watches can be found in the Ilbert and Denisson Collections.
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2001-11-11
