DESCRIPTION:
EPW - Abraham-Louis Perrelet (born 1729, died 1826, inventor), rare unsigned self-winding watch with distinctive features of one of the few watches ever attributed to him, 40mm, silver OF original consular case with Swiss and French hallmarks on pendant, pseudo-French hallmarks in case (indicating possible manufacture in Geneva, which was part of France from 1799 to 1815, and retained the French giraffe-head mark after that), the name "Foissey à Boulogne" engraved inside back, possibly an owner, KWKS, WED, virgule escapement with going barrel, plain gilt mvt with center-mounted weight attenuated by springs striking block, without visible number. The weight winds bi-directionally. Chapuis & Jaquet's classic, "History of the Self-Winding Watch" documents a similar watch found in 1949 by Léon Leroy as being the only known attribution to Perrelet. The watch differs in having full 360-degree rotation of the weight and having verge escapement with fusee. It is similar in being unsigned, of identical case and dial style, with plain mvt, and attributed to the Neuchâtel Jura, where the lack of guilds led to many watches remaining unsigned, as was especially and apparently clearly the case with Perrelet. The striking similarities are the circular fixture operating as weight mount, and the three-gear winding train, here arranged only in slightly different layout. But both watches are identified as coming from the same shop by three unique features: the recess of the balance flush with the plate, the plate-edge regulator scale with "A" and "R" markings, and most definitive of all, the circular recesses around the pillars where they are pinned, with at least three of the four in identical locations, a feature unlike any watch of the period or area. See page 46-47 of Chapuis & Jaquet. It is apparent that this watch was a development from Leroy's example, simplified with going barrel and virgule, and improved with the 270-degree bouncing system that is more responsive to walking. Another watch is pictured on page 212 with calendar, going barrel and virgule, but none of the other identifiable production features. Gross weight of assembled watch 55.4 dwt (86.1 g). This is a most interesting historic find, whether or not the Jaquet and Chapuis attribution has stood the test of time. Our thanks to PP for noticing the case hallmark similarity!
CONDITION:
Mvt: GRO, good balance motion, good escapement function, good winding function; plates show excellent gilding, little oxide on steel components; dial with complex fracture and filling at 2 to 3; hands excellent, slight mismatch, minute tip gone; original case shows little wear, medium tarnish, profuse MFS, a few very light dents or dings; bezel resists closure with or without mvt installed; bow & pendant original; good domed glass crystal.
ESTIMATE:
$4000
-
$6000
PRICE SOLD:
$4800
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