40,250 CHF
Omega Watch Co. , Geneva, No. 4000109, made by Philippe René Jaccard, circa 1930. Unique and very fine nickel, keyless watch with very special silent unidirectional escapement that requires no oil. Three-piece, screw bezel and glazed back. White enamel, Breguet numerals, outer minute track, subsidiary sunk seconds, aperture for viewing the escapement action. Notes Philippe René Jaccard (b. 1897). Born in Besançon, the son of master adjuster Alfred Jaccard, Philippe René Jaccard was an ingenious watchmaker and technician. His reputation was established with the invention of a constant force mechanism which could work as long as four days or more.The watch is remarkable. All other balance spring escapements give an impulse to the balance, with the balance spring being utilized only for isochronism. Jaccard revolutionized horological thinking by using the end of the balance spring for the impulse. The principle is simple; the hairspring's stud is loosely mounted in a small pallet that receives an impulse from a 60-tooth escape wheel which simply pushes the tip of the pallet. The pallet moving the stud gives an impulse to the balance. The return swing brings the pallet back in front of the next tooth. The locking and unlocking detents are very cleverly controlled by the small pallet. The escapement, which is unidirectional and fairly detached, is also silent. There is no banking as in other escapements, which would produce noise. In this aspect it resembles Harrison's gras
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2003-10-11
