Sylvain Mairet

(Sylvain Mairet), Locle, case No. 3811/117/86, made circa 1835. Exceptionally fine and elegant extra-slim 18K gold watch with Réaumur thermometer and regulator dial. Three-body, coin-edge, hinged engine-turned back with winding aperture, polished bezel. 40 mm (17 3/4’’’), frosted gilt, female winding and hand setting holes, 15 jewels, coun-terpoisedpolished steel lateral lever escapement, polished steel escape wheel, blued steel and brass bimetallicbalance with blued steel arms, blued steel spiral balance-spring, index regulator, steel and brass bimetallic ther-mometercurb acing on spring-loaded rack-and-pinion transmission.Diam. 44 mm. Notes Sylvain Jean Mairet (1805-1890) Raised by his uncle F.I. Favre-Bulle, a great watchmaker, he became one of the best watchmakers in Le Locle. Between 1831 and 1834 he lived in London, making watches, often to his own design, and mostly for Vulliamy. He became friendly with J. F. Cole. He invented stem winding for watches with two-train movements. In 1862 he was Swiss agent to the London Universal Exhibition, writing the official report. At the 1867 Paris Exhibition he received a gold medal for “his ability and the beneficial influence which he had exerted on the progress of watchmaking in the Canton of Neuchâtel". René Antoine Ferchault de Réaumur (1683 - 1757) Born in La Rochelle, René Antoine Ferchault de Réaumur pursued his studies first in his native city, and then in Poitiers and in Bourges. After studying law, he turned to ma