Etienne Deleamont

Etienne Deleamont, Genève, circa 1790. Rare and very unusual, silver, extra large moon phase astronomical, double calendar center seconds stop-watch with experimental escapement. Double body, Louis XVI, polished. White enamel eccentric with Arabic numerals, subsidiary dials for the age of the moon, days of the week with outer dates, moon phase aperture (slightly restored). Gold "poker and beetle" hands. Hinged gilt brass full plate with cylindrical pillars, the border of the back plate with pierced decoration, going barrel, highly unusual rack pin-wheel lever escapement with extra large plain brass five arm, second beating balance, flat balance spring, ruby end-stone. Stop watch lever on the gilt brass flange. Signed on the back plate, the signature covered by the balance cock. In good condition, in a later fitted box. Diam. 80 mm. Notes That this watch is experimental is clearly indicated by the alteration made to the movement at the time of its original construction. There are several blind holes on the back plate that may have been intended for a more standard type of escapement, but only a few have been pierced through and not the larger ones, which are gilded over, confirming that they were never used. The fitting of the very large balance (the total diameter of the back plate) necessitated the cock being placed at the edge, where it covers the signature. It is interesting to note that this watch was made during the same period and in the same tocan as Pouzait wa