Excellent Swiss gold minute repeating lever pocket watch Circa 1890

Gold hunting cased keyless pocket watch
–
An excellent Swiss 18 carat pink gold minute repeating hunting cased keyless pocket watch, circa 1890. A solid, polished case with a hinged gold cuvette, glazed gold rimmed cover over the movement. White enamel dial with radial Arabic numerals, outer minute track, outer five minute numerals, subsidiary seconds and blued steel spade hands. Rhodium plated movement, Geneva striping decoration, 29 jewels, counterpoised straight line calibrated lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance, blued steel Breguet balance spring, index regulator, repeating on gongs activated by a slide on the band. Dial and movement signed, case numbered.
–
Diameter: 58 mm
–
Signed: Haas-Privat & Co.  Genève
–
Haas & Cie.
In 1848 the brothers Leopold (1827-1915) and Benjamin (1828-1925) Haas, both knights of the Légion d’honneur, founded the Ancienne Manufacture des Montres Haas & Cie in Geneva. The company excelled in unique and exceptional pieces and achieved its reputation with exquisite watches that pass for modern even today. Rare treasures such as the split second chronograph and beautifully wrought pocket and wristwatches were created in accordance with the manufacturer’s fundamental motto of simplicity, technique and elegance. Benjamin Haas invented a form of winding where the mainspring was wound by opening the front cover of a hunting case watch.
–
In 1884 Haas changed their name to Haas Neveux & Cie, to communicate that new family members had taken positions in the company. At the same time, the original logo of B.H. & Co. (for Benjamin Haas & Co) was changed to a small running hare and the letters HNC in an oval shape – representing the dynamic attitude of the company. In 1896 Haas Neveux & Cie establishes a record with an ultra flat 2mm movement for a lady’s watch and wins first prize for precision in the 1902 competition of the famous Observatoire de Genève.