French 18k gold open faced anchor chronometer Circa 1865

Gold lever precision watch by Charles Oudin
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A fine French 18 carat gold open faced anchor chronometer pocket watch, circa 1865. Precision anchorage of the finest quality with unusual compensation anchor, large gold screwed compensation balance, gold mechanism, wolf toothed winding wheels, blued cylindrical balance spring.White enamel dial with black Roman numerals and gold spade hands. Plain case, monogram to the back. Dust cover engraved: Chs Oudin Her de la Marine Palais Royale 52 Paris MÉDAILLES DE 1806 A 1864.
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Diameter: 48 mm
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Weight: 102 g
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Signed: No 21583 Chs Oudin Her de la Marine Palais Royal 52 Paris MEDAILLES DE 1806 A 1864
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Charles Oudin (1772-1825) was a pupil of Abraham-Louis Breguet and one of his best foremen. He became independent in Paris, watchmaker of the Tsar of Russia and developed a keyless lift. After Oudin’s death, his son Charles Raymond Oudin continued the business.
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For the London Exhibition in 1862, Oudin-Charpentier produced a book ‘Catalog of Chief Exhibits by Oudin-Charpentier – Watchmaker to their Majesties the Queen and King of Spain and for the Imperial Navy’. Oudin-Charpentier has been named official watchmaker of the French Navy, a mosaic that still exists today at Place du Palais Royal 52 testifies to its title ‘Horloger de la Marine Nationale’. Given the quality of his work, it is surprising that so little is recorded about his life. The company Oudin continued the Breguet tradition.