Swiss 18K gold chronometer with minute repeater Circa 1890

Gold pocket watch by Fritz Piguet & Bachmann
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A very fine Geneva chronometer with minute repeater, made by Fritz Piguet & Bachmann Genève, L. Bachmann successeur in Genève, Switzerland, circa 1890. The open faced á goutte (waterdrop shape) case made of 18 Carat gold bears the hallmark Fritz Piguet & Bachmann Genève and has a monogram engraved on the back. The white enamel dial has an outer ring with Arabic numerals for the hours and minutes, a subsidiary dial at 6 o’clock also with Arabic numerals for the seconds and black spade hands. The movement has a Geneva precision lever escapement, the same numbers as housing 12251, Geneva striping finish, anchor chronometer with minute repeater, 31 jewels, Wolf’s teeth and factory glazing.
Dust cover signed, numbered and inscribed “Chronomètre”.
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Diameter: 51 mm
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Weight: 104 g
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Signed: Fritz Piguet & Bachmann Genève, L. Bachmann succ^r
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Fritz Piguet & Bachmann

The company operated at Rue Bonnivard 10 in Geneva and supplied ebauches to the most important watchmakers of the mid 19^th century. Trading as “Fritz Piguet & Bachmann”, they were renowned for their splendidly adjusted watches due to their incomparable régleur: the acclaimed Favre-Rochat, a rival to the equally famous Batifolier. Both Favre-Rochat and Batifolier were expert adjusters who specialized in highly complicated watches. Piguet & Bachmann competed with Haas Neveux for first place in complicated watches and won first prize in the 1888 Geneva Observatory Timing Contest, achieving 228.8 points. In the 1878 Paris Universal Exhibition, they won a silver medal, followed by a gold medal later in Melbourne (1881). In competitions for complicated watches, Piguet & Bachmann were always amongst the top contestants favoured to win. The name was changed in Fritz Piguet & Bachmann, Genève, L. Bachmann successeur and was most famous for its highly complicated watches – in 1893, a minute repeater with moon phase, perpetual calendar and chronograph function was delivered to the king of Romania. The company’s régleurs were Fritz Piguet and renowned watchmaker A. Favre-Rochat. Maison M. Bader took over the company in 1913.