French extremely rare gold anker chronometer Circa 1900

Gold split seconds chronograph
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An extremely rare French 18 carat gold open faced anker chronometer with split seconds chronograph made by Ligeron in Paris, circa 1900. A ½ plate movement, ground double hand pliers with a ratchet wheel for the split seconds, piston tooth lever escapement, gold screw compensation balance and a hallmark in the shape of a viper’s head. White enamel dial with black Arabic hours, inner red Arabic 24 hour numerals, an outer minute track with fifth of a second divisions and Arabic five minute markers, a 60 minute counter at 12 o’clock, sunk subsidiary seconds at 6 and spade hands. The case with a gold cuvette featuring the engraving Chronographe No 54516 Avec Bulletin de 1ère Classe de l’Observatoire National. Dial signed, case numbered, cuvette signed and numbered and signed Ligeron Horloger de la Marine Bd Bne Nouvelle Paris. Comes with a chronometer certificate 1ère Classe de l’Observatoire National in Besançon.
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Diameter: 54 mm
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Weight: 123 g
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Signed: Ligeron Horloger de la Marine de l’Etat Paris
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The Besançon Observatory punches the viper’s head hallmark on watches of the competition that are awarded the Bulletin de Première Classe.
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René Claude Ligeron was born on August 10th, 1855, in Lormes, Nièvre, Burgundy, as the son of jeweller Jean Ligeron (1832-1919) and Jeanne Claudine Chapuis (1829-1915). From 1886, he settled in Paris. He ran the Tempo-Ligeron Jewellery and Watch Store. Around 1900, the company was granted the title “Horloger de la Marine”. In 1911, René Claude received a patent for a device for transmitting the official time. Ligeron died on January 21st, 1946 at the age of 90 in Gravon, Seine et Marne. His jewellery and watch business continued until 2018.
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As can be read on the Chronometer Extract provided, this watch was presented to the Besançon Observatory for chronometer testing by Mr Lipmann on February 9th, 1914. So you can assume that the watch comes from the Lipmann family, the founders of the LIP brand. The LIP company was founded in Besançon in the 1860s by Emmanuel Lipmann.