Swiss. A fine, rare and large 18K pink gold and enamel openface two-train quarter repeating watch with musical barillet-type pinned cylinder
Swiss. A fine, rare and large 18K pink gold and enamel openface two-train quarter repeating watch with musical barillet-type pinned cylinder

UNSIGNED, NO. 2142, CIRCA 1820

Details
Swiss. A fine, rare and large 18K pink gold and enamel openface two-train quarter repeating watch with musical barillet-type pinned cylinder
Unsigned, No. 2142, circa 1820
Mechanical two train barillet-type cylinder movement, repeating on two steel hammers, musical pinned cylinder, the music activated by depressing a small button in the band, gilt cuvette, engine-turned gilt dial, Breguet numerals on white enamel chapter ring, a circular painted polychrome enamel miniature depicting a soldier holding a flag inscribed Pro Patria (watchful for the country), engine-turned circular case, ribbed band, repeating through the pendant, case, cuvette and movement numbered
60 mm. diam.

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Lot Essay

The present watch is fitted with the rare barillet-type movement with a rotating pinned cylinder as opposed to the more often used "sur plateau" movement with a flat rotating disc (see the next lot in this auction). Although requiring more space and hence a more voluminous case, the pinned cylinder movement is more robust and generates a richer tone.

The barillet-type movement with pinned cylinder was invented by the watchmaker Antoine Favre-Salomon in Geneva in 1796. He replaced the stack of bells in use at the time by a comb with multiple pre- tuned notes. Together with a horizontally placed pinned barrel this system generates more varied and complex sounds.

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