Extraordinary Swiss 18K gold hunting cased lever watch Circa 1885

Gold seconde foudroyante watch 
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An extraordinary, rare and heavy Swiss 18 carat gold hunting cased pocket watch with a flying fourth of a second indicator, stoppable jumping seconds and stoppable independent center seconds made by Favre-Brandt in Le Locle, circa 1885. The 2/3 plate movement with key winding for two barrels, a lever escapement and gold screw compensation balance. White enamel dial with Roman hours, outer minute divisions, an outermost fifth of a second track with Arabic five minute numerals, a subsidiary fourth of a second dial and moon hands. The engine turned case with maker’s mark AH. Dial and movement signed, case numbered, cuvette signed and numbered.
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Diameter: 55 mm
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Weight: 149 g
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Signed: Ls Ato Favre Brandt Locle
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Around 1870, the Favre-Brandt company in Le Locle was specializing in the export of watches and watch movements. James Favre-Brandt, one of the company members, relocated to Japan in 1863 and gained a reputation for his contributions to establishing the horological industry in Japan. In 1877, L.A. Favre-Brandt moved to Geneva. A year later, they won a silver medal at the World Exhibition in Paris. L.A. Favre-Brandt also registered as a maker of watch movements under the brand name Montauk Watch Co.
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Seconde foudroyante dates from at least the 1870s and was developed for the precise timing of sporting events, especially horse racing. ‘Foudre’ is French for ‘lightning’ which is the preferred name in English, along with jumping seconds. Most watches feature a seconds hand that rotates for one minute. A seconde foudroyante hand, in contrast, completes one full revolution per second. Watches equipped with such a hand typically also feature a conventional seconds hand. The foudroyante hand can be central or in a subdial and can be used for timekeeping or as part of a chronograph. On a chronograph, a hand makes one rotation every second and pauses four, five or even eight times to indicate quarters, fifths or eighths of a second.