Swiss 18K gold repeating split second chronograph Circa 1870

Gold early split seconds chronograph 
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An early, extremely rare Swiss 18 carat gold hunting cased minute repeating split seconds chronograph attributed to Patek Philippe in Geneva, circa 1870. Retailed by Tiffany & Co in New York, U.S.A. The glazed movement is of an extremely rare caliber. White enamel face with eccentric scales for the hours, minutes and seconds and blued steel split chronograph hands. A heavy polished case. Dial signed Tiffany & Co Geneva, dial, case and movement with matching numbers.
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Diameter: 54 mm
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Weight: 143 g
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Signed: Tiffany & Co Geneva
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This watch is a rarity. It is one of the earliest combinations of a split seconds chronograph and minute repeater from around 1870. Similar, almost matching watches were simultaneously made by Patek Philippe in Geneva. The signature Tiffany & Co Geneva is also interesting! The present piece likely received a movement from Patek Philippe.
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A split seconds chronograph or ‘rattrapante’, is a type of chronograph watch with two coaxial, superimposed center seconds hands that are controlled by two push buttons. One push button controls the split seconds hand to stop or join the chronograph hand. The other push buttons control both hands and all the chronograph functions. The chronograph and split seconds hands are used for timing several events that start simultaneously but are of different durations. To operate the split seconds chronograph, both hands are started and remain superimposed. Then at the end of the first duration, the split seconds hand can be stopped while the chronograph hand continues to move. The duration of the first event can be read. After recording, the split seconds hand can be released to instantly move and join the chronograph hand, synchronizing with it and thus being ready for another recording. At the end of each event, the hands then can be stopped and returned to zero. The split seconds chronograph, in its present form, was first introduced in 1880. Split seconds chronograph wristwatches came on the market circa 1922 by Patek Philippe (the first known wristwatch of this kind was Patek Philippe No. 124824, case No. 235326. This timepiece appeared five years prior to the official release of the split seconds chronograph, making Patek Philippe the first manufacturer to create this complication in a wristwatch. As they require a highly complicated and technical mechanism, these watches are desirable, very collectable and extremely difficult to produce accounting for their rarity.