DESCRIPTION:
EPW - Courvoisier et Houriet, Locle, cylinder fusee with center-seconds and regulator style dial, 49mm, gilt silver case with casemaker's "Z C B" marking in diamond shaped cameo, white enamel dial with winding aperture at lower right, KWKS, cylinder escapement, gilt mvt with pierced and foliate scrolled two-footed balance bridge, s#33397. Brian Loomes' "Watchmakers and Clockmakers of the World" notes that the partnership of David Courvoisier and Jacques Frederic Houriet was active between 1775 and 1804. Jacques Frederic Houriet is a notable figure in chronometry, having devised the spherical hairspring and Houriet has been referred to as the father of Swiss chronometry (thus inspiring a book of that title, "Frédéric Houriet, The Father of Swiss Chronometry" which was written by Jean-Claude Sabrier).
CONDITION:
Mvt: Running, mvt likely originally was with hacking function as there is an empty position for a slide under lower left of dial and there are empty holes in the dial plate and main plate at corresponding positions, otherwise excellent cosmetic mvt condition overall, some typical scattered fine scratches, small marks to plate adjacent pillar positions; dial with patched edge chipping at lower right, some edge hls or fractures at right and lower right, small edge flake at top, small flake adjacent left rim of winding aperture; fine hands, hour hand appears to be missing a portion of its tip, seconds-hand with some bends; case shows medium to ample wear with only small portions of gilt finish remaining to exterior, mild dent to bezel at lower right, rear engine turning detail substantially reduced with progression from faint central portion to full loss at shoulder, exterior of case with only small portions of gilt finish remaining, interior surfaces with gilt substantially intact; bow pivots freely; good domed glass crystal.
ESTIMATE:
$800
-
$1600
"
"
"
"
"
"