Swiss gold chronometer with 1st class tourbillon Circa 1895

Gold hunter retailed by Hauser Zivy & Cie.
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A Swiss 18 carat yellow gold hunting cased keyless pocket Chronometer, circa 1895. With Perregaux calibre one-minute tourbillon carriage, pivoted detent Chronometer escapement, and three golden bridge movements. Retailed by Hauser Zivy & Cie., Mexico-Paris, La Esmeralda, Chronometer 1st Class Tourbillon. A solid, polished case, stepped back and front covers and a hinged gold cuvette. White enamel dial with radial Roman numerals, outer minute track, sunk subsidiary seconds dial and blued steel spade hands. First quality movement with three parallel golden bridges, 16 jewels, gold wheel train, Perregaux calibre one-minute tourbillon regulator with pivoted detent escapement, bimetallic compensation balance with gold temperature adjustment screws, blued steel Breguet balance spring, index regulator. Movement signed, case numbered.
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Diameter: 57 mm
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Signed: Girard-Perregaux  Chaux-de-Fonds
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Accompanied by the original fitted box
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Granted a US patent for its movement design in 1884, the Girard-Perregaux three golden bridge tourbillon is the most iconic and inarguably the most visually appealing tourbillon movement ever designed. From the few original examples that have appeared publicly, all featuring minor variations, it can be assumed the movements were built by hand to order and each one could be considered as a unique creation. Of the pocket watches using the Girard-Perregaux three golden bridge tourbillon movement, the most legendary example is perhaps No. 168230, known as the La Esmeralda. Sold by the important jewellery and watch retailer La Esmeralda operated by Hauser Zivy & Cie in Mexico City, the piece is known to have been owned by the President of Mexico, Porfirio Diaz (1830 -1915) and later by his descendants.
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The movement, housed within a highly ornate gold case finished by a renowned engraver Fritz Kundert, was awarded a bulletin at the Neuchatel Observatory in 1889 and subsequently won a gold medal at the Paris Universal Exposition later that same year. The watch now rests in the Girard-Perregaux Museum. The present lot with No. 189119 represents one of the very few examples to use the same Perregaux calibre movement with the earlier pivoted detent escapement design identical to the “La Esmeralda”. In research, this is the only other example with the same movement/balance combination sold by the same retailer to appear at auction in recent years.