Swiss gold split center seconds lever with diablotine Circa 1875

Flyback split independent center seconds lever with 1/4th second diablotine 
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A fine and very rare Swiss 18 Carat gold open faced two train keyless lever pocket watch with flyback independent split center seconds and 1/4th second diablotine, circa 1875. Rhodium plated movement, Geneva striping decoration, double train with differential winding, 25 jewels, counterpoised straight line lever escapement, cut bi metallic compensation balance, blued steel Breguet balance spring and an index regulator. Hinged gold cuvette with engine turned border. White enamel dial with narrow Roman numerals, outer minute track with Arabic five minute numerals, outermost seconds divisions divided into quarter seconds, subsidiary quarter second diablotine and original blued steel Breguet hands. Massive case, engine turned with ribbed borders, button in the band at 10 for the start/stop, at 11 for the split seconds and start stop of hands and diablotine by depressing the crown.
Dial and cuvette signed.
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Diameter: 52 mm
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Signed: Julien Mathey Locle
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This piece is unusual in that the independent center seconds can be started and stopped independently of the diablotine by means of the button at ten o’clock. Both seconds hands and the diablotine can be stopped by depressing the crown.
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The feature known as a diablotine is a small subsidiary dial on a chronograph or independent center seconds pocket watch, the hand of which moves in a jumping manner at intervals of 1/4 or 1/5th of a second. The term literally means ‘little devil’. The diablotine is halted when the chronograph or center seconds is stopped and the fractions of a second can be read.