Swiss full hunter with chronometer escapement Circa 1860

Gold hunting cased chronometer by Westermann & Ekegrén
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A rare and early Swiss 18 carat gold hunting cased watch with detent chronometer escapement, circa 1860. Gilt bridge movement with chronometer escapement of the finest quality, key wind, blued screws, two armed compensation balance, bimetallic, with screwed weights, visible rubies. White enamel dial, signed, Roman numerals, small sunken seconds, decorative blued steel hands. Engraved case, à goutte, monogram in a cartouche, dust cover signed and inscribed ‘CHRONOMÈTRE’.
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Diameter: 53 mm
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Weight: 114 g
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Signed: Westermann & Ekegrén GENÈVE
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Henri-Robert Ekegrén was born in Copenhagen in 1823, as the son of watchmaker Daniel Ekegrén. He worked for Jules-Frédéric Jürgensen, Henri Golay, Joseph Thaddeus Winnerl and Adolph Lange, before he finally became self employed in Geneva. He founded the company Ekegrén & Westermann in 1857 together with his business partner Ferdinand Westermann. In 1862 Westermann left the company, which thereafter became known as H.R. Ekegrén. He won several gold medals in various world exhibitions and also the chronometer competition in Geneva. Ekegrén was a famous chronometer maker in Switzerland, his products were among the finest Swiss watches of the time.
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Literature: Osvaldo Patrizzi, Dictionnaire des Horlogers Genevois.