Swiss platinum minute repeating lever dress watch Circa 1915

Platinum minute repeater by Ekegrén
–
A very fine, rare and thin Swiss platinum open faced minute repeating keyless lever dress watch made by Edouard Koehn, Geneva for J.E. Caldwell & Co, Philadelphia, circa 1915. Rhodium-plated movement, 29 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance with eight adjustments, blued steel flat balance spring, index regulator, repeating on gongs activated by a slide in the band. Matte silver dial with painted dauphine numerals, outer minute track, subsidiary seconds and original black Breguet hands. Polished case, flat monogrammed back. Dial, case and movement signed.
–
Diameter: 44 mm
–
Signed: H.R. Ekegrén Geneva
–
The balance of this watch has been repaired and soldered.
–
Henri-Robert Ekegrén (1823-1896) was the son of Swedish watchmaker Daniel Ekegrén, he worked for Jules Jürgensen in Le Locle, Winnerl in Paris and Henri Golay in Geneva, where he arrived in 1847. In 1857 he formed a partnership with Ferdinand Westermann. At the 1867 Exhibition, he displayed 36 watches, winning a gold medal. Subsequent exhibitions – Vienna in 1873, Paris in 1875, Philadelphia in 1876, Paris again in 1878 and Zurich in 1883 – brought him and his collaborator Louis Chevalier further honors and recognition. The company of H.R. Ekegrén continued after his death.