Swiss sterling silver split seconds chronograph Circa 1900

Sterling silver lever pocket watch
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A rare Swiss sterling silver pocket watch with split seconds chronograph attributed to Henchoz Frères, circa 1900. The ¾ plate movement with a piston tooth lever escapement and monometallic screw balance. White enamel regulator dial with decentralized time indication featuring radial Roman numerals and an outer minute track at 12 o’clock, subsidiary seconds at 4, a 30 minute counter at 8, an outermost minute chapter with fifth of a second divisions and Arabic five minute numerals. The plain case with a gold crown, pushpiece, hinges and slide in the band. Case numbered.
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Diameter: 55 mm
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Weight: 133 g
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Signed: No name
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Henchoz Frères was a Swiss watchmaking company founded in 1880/1881 in Le Locle by brothers Auguste and Fritz Henchoz. In literature, they were also referred to by their wives’ surnames: Fritz Henchoz-Huguenin and Auguste Henchoz-Arnold. The company specialized in multi register chronographs, minute repeaters, split second stopwatches and high precision tourbillons.
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In 1881, they won third prize at the National Watch Exhibition in La Chaux-de-Fonds. In 1884, a Class C chronometer won a second prize worth 80 Swiss francs, behind Ulysse Nardin and ahead of Dubois & Leroy, and they showcased grand complication pocket watches and grande sonnerie chronographs at the 1896 National Swiss Fair in Geneva. In 1914, they further won a gold medal at the Bern Watch Exhibition.
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In collaboration with masters like Albert Pellaton, movements were largely built from scratch rather than relying on external ebauches. They marketed select lines under brand names including Ascot and The Winner, while also supplying high end movements to retailers like S. Smith & Son. Timepieces manufactured by Henchoz Frères were also imported by A. Wittnauer in New York, U.S.A.
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In 1913, the brand name Suburban Watch was registered. 
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Run by the founders’ sons, Auguste-Alfred and Marcel-Emile, the headquarters, now known as Henchoz & Fils, were relocated to Geneva in the early 1920s.
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In 1973, Suburban was listed as a brand by both Henchoz & Fils and Wittnauer & Cie.