Swiss gold watch with pivoted detent escapement Circa 1880

Gold hunting cased pocket watch
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A rare gold hunting cased pocket chronometer, circa 1880. Nickel movement with Potter’s patented pivoted detent escapement, patented bridge layout, and Guillaume type balance, blued steel helical hairspring, free sprung regulation, jewels carried in gold screwed chatons, glazed cuvette, white enamel dial, painted black radial Roman numerals, blued steel Breguet hands, large subsidiary seconds, outer minute track, 18k pink gold hunting case, case, dial, and movement signed, case stamped with Potter’s trademark balance wheel logo.
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Diameter: 56 mm
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Signed:  Albert H. Potter & Co.  Geneva
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Potter remains one of the most celebrated American watch makers. The present example incorporates many features unique to Potter’s production, including his patented safety barrel, his highly recognized bridge arrangement, his own form of pivoted detent, and his method of securing the movement in the case. Albert H. Potter was born in Saratoga County, New York in 1830 and served his apprenticeship in Albany. In 1855, he established himself in New York City. He spent five years working in Cuba and later returned to the United States and organized a watch company with his brother William Cleveland Potter. However, in 1876, he moved to Geneva.  He likely sought to surpass the boundaries of the American watchmaking industry, which, at the time, was focused on mass production, rather than individual innovation. He produced approximately 600 watches while working in Switzerland.