103,500 CHF
Henri Motel, Horloger de la Marine Royale, No. 180, made circa 1832 from an early movement "à double cage" coming from the workshop of Louis Berthoud, restored for M. le Capitaine Dupéray on October 10th. 1836. Extremely fine and rare silver and gold pocket chronometer with split seconds recorder, in original citron-wood inlaid mahogany fitted box with original ratchet key. Three body, "forme quatre baguettes" by Joly, with gold rims and bow, reeded band and bezels and engine-turned back. Three body mahogany box of deck watch type with citron-wood inlaid lines and border. Matt silver with Roman numerals and subsidiary seconds. Blued-steel Breguet hands. Notes This is the only watch known, made by Motel, fitted with a double direct drive seconds hand for a fly back mechanism quite distinct from that invented by Winnerl in 1838 and improved in 1840. It raises the question as to who was the true inventor of this device, the more so as No. 180 does not appear in the sales books which Motel began to keep in 1835. It was thus sold before this date. Although the watch is signed by Motel, and is recorded as having returned to his workshops for adjustment, the ebauche of the movement is quite different from all others. However, it does correspond exactly to the description given by Louis Berthoud of his caliber "à double cage", invented in 1793 for watch No. 20, subsequently sold to M. Pigou, and likewise employed for marine watches Nos. 21 and 22. This caliber vvas concei
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
1993-11-14
