37,760 CHF
“Albert H. Potter Pocket Chronometer” Albert H. Potter & Co. Genève, No. 25. Made circa 1880. Exceptionally fine and very rare, 18K gold, hunting-cased, keyless pocket chronometer with counterpoised pivoted spring detent escapement. Three-body, massive, "bassine et filets" engine-turned covers, gold-rimmed glazed cuvette. White enamel with radial Roman numerals, outer minute track, large subsidiary seconds. Blued steel Breguet hands. Notes The present watch is a very good example of the very highly finished pivoted detent chronometer calibre made by Albert H. Potter, who was, and remains perhaps the most celebrated American makers of pocket chronometers. He worked in Geneva where he was able to find excellent craftsmen to help him. This watch incorporates a number of special features peculiar to Potter. There is his patented safety barrel (patent No. 168581) to protect the going train from the effects of mainspring breakage, it uses a considerable amount of height so that the spring is unusually narrow for such a large watch. The pivoted detent escapement has Potter’s own form of pivoted detent with a special arrangement for the passing spring intended to make the passing action as easy as possible, carried on a piece at right angles to the blade near the free-end of the detent, there is a circular counterpoising tail. Banking for the detent is provided by a single pin set in the end of the escape wheel cock, there is, therefore, no adjustment for the depth of locking
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2006-11-12
