32,200 CHF
Berthoud, No. 46, Swiss, with Frédéric Houriet's punchmark on the pendant, circa 1825.Very fine and rare 18K gold pocket chronometer with special balance-spring. Three-body, massive, "forme quatre baguettes", polished with engine-turned back. Hinged gilt brass cuvette engraved with a description of the technical features. White enamel with Roman numerals, outer minute ring and subsidiary seconds. Blued steel "Breguet" hands. 53,7 mm, frosted and gilt, three-quarter plate, with cylindrical pillars secured by screws, the back plate indented for the barrel secured by a bridge, the fusee with chain and maintaining power, 13 jewels, spring detent escpement, two-arm compensation balance with two wedged weights and timing screws, beating 21600 per hour, free-sprung blued steel spherical balance-spring,gold train.Numbered on the cuvette, pendant stamped "H".Diam. 61 mm. Notes Although made of gold instead of silver, this chronometer is almost identical to the one by Houriet, No. 79, sold by Antiquorum in Geneva on October 1999, lot 24. Its movement is typical of Frederic Houriet's work. The caliber is similar to the one used both by Houriet and by Urban Jürgensen for the tourbillon made for Breguet.This watch is published in the Ruscitti book, as no. 44.Jacques-Frédéric Houriet (1743-1830)was born at La Chaux d'Abel. He was apprenticed to his uncle, Daniel Gagnebin, at Renan and later to Abraham-Louis Perrelet. In Paris he worked for Pierre LeRoy, Jean Romilly and Ferd
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2001-10-13
