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Lot Essay
Accompanied by Observatoire de Genève Bulletin de Marche and original fitted rosewood presentation box.
The present watch obtained the First Class Bulletin de Marche at the Geneva Timing Contest in 1891. It was adjusted by Marius Favre personally and fitted with a non-metallic compensation balance and palladium spring made by Paillard.
Marius Favre (1860-1914), a Geneva based watchmaker and important chronometer adjuster, specialized in the manufacture of precision timekeepers. His watches were so highly accurate that he broke all records when the 18 watches he presented at the 1893 Geneva Timing Contest all obtained a rating certificate as well as 17 awards incl. six first prices (see Technique and History of the Swiss Watch by E. Jaquet and A. Chapuis, pp. 210-211).
Charles Auguste Paillard (1840-1895) was born in La Chaux-de-Fonds and followed in his parents' footsteps (his father was an adjuster and his mother made hairsprings) by becoming a watchmaker, specializing in the repair of marine chronometers.
In 1862 Paillard settled as an adjuster in Geneva and continued his experiments with palladium hairsprings until inventing in 1877 a non-magnetic hairspring. The same year he presented two watches with palladium hairsprings at the Geneva Observatory Timing Contest and both received First Class rating certificates. In 1881 Paillard was awarded a gold medal by the Geneva Society of Arts for his creation and as of the following year, Swiss chronometer makers used his palladium alloy for making non-magnetic, rust-free hairsprings.
Around 1885 Paillard completed his invention with a non-magnetic compensation balance.
The present watch obtained the First Class Bulletin de Marche at the Geneva Timing Contest in 1891. It was adjusted by Marius Favre personally and fitted with a non-metallic compensation balance and palladium spring made by Paillard.
Marius Favre (1860-1914), a Geneva based watchmaker and important chronometer adjuster, specialized in the manufacture of precision timekeepers. His watches were so highly accurate that he broke all records when the 18 watches he presented at the 1893 Geneva Timing Contest all obtained a rating certificate as well as 17 awards incl. six first prices (see Technique and History of the Swiss Watch by E. Jaquet and A. Chapuis, pp. 210-211).
Charles Auguste Paillard (1840-1895) was born in La Chaux-de-Fonds and followed in his parents' footsteps (his father was an adjuster and his mother made hairsprings) by becoming a watchmaker, specializing in the repair of marine chronometers.
In 1862 Paillard settled as an adjuster in Geneva and continued his experiments with palladium hairsprings until inventing in 1877 a non-magnetic hairspring. The same year he presented two watches with palladium hairsprings at the Geneva Observatory Timing Contest and both received First Class rating certificates. In 1881 Paillard was awarded a gold medal by the Geneva Society of Arts for his creation and as of the following year, Swiss chronometer makers used his palladium alloy for making non-magnetic, rust-free hairsprings.
Around 1885 Paillard completed his invention with a non-magnetic compensation balance.