Swiss 18K gold quarter repeating lever pocket watch Circa 1870

Gold open faced repeater
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A fine and rare Swiss 18 carat gold open faced quarter repeating keyless demi chronomètre pocket watch made by Henry Capt in Geneva, circa 1870. Glazed rhodium plated movement with Geneva Striping decoration, 31 jewels, wolf’s tooth winding, a gold wheel train, counterpoised straight line lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance, blued steel Breguet balance spring and an index regulator, repeating on gongs activated by a slide on the band. White enamel dial with Roman hours, outer minute divisions and Arabic five minute numerals, subsidiary seconds at 6 o’clock and blued steel fleur-de-lys hands. Polished and engine turned case, the back with the engraved foliate monogram AH. Dial, case and movement signed.
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Diameter: 48 mm
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Signed: Henry Capt Genève
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Henry Capt used the name demi chronomètre to indicate that the movement was sent to the Observatory for chronometric control, but that, for commercial reasons, it did not remain long enough to complete the entire course of testing. It is thought that only two Genevan firms employed the denomination ‘demi chronomètre’: Henry Capt and Vacheron & Constantin.