Extremely rare Swiss silver lever deck chronometer Circa 1928

Silver open faced precision watch by Paul Ditisheim
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An extremely rare Swiss silver open faced lever deck chronometer, circa 1928. High precision lever chronometer movement, Paul Ditisheim movement type I, large screwed Guillaume compensation balance, 21 jewels, screwed gold chatons. Cuvette inscribed Deck Watch No 703375 with Neuchâtel Observatory Certificate Paul Ditisheim SA manufacturers La Chaux-de-Fonds 412. State Prizes. Silvered dial with Roman hours, outer minute divisions and Arabic seconds, power reserve indicator, blued steel hands. Plain case, screwed on both sides, reeded band. Case signed and numbered on the back, dial and movement signed and numbered, case, movement and dial with matching numbers. Comes with the original mahogany box with brass mountings and a copy of the original Bulletin of 1928.
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Dimensions box: 15 × 12 x 9.5 cm
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Diameter case: 66 mm
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Weight: 306 g
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Signed: Paul Ditisheim La Chaux-de-Fonds Switzerland Grand Prix Paris 1900
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This watch is an important deck watch of a small series of the most impressive precision pocket watches ever built. The timepiece took part in the 1928 chronometer test at the Neuchâtel Observatory in the First Class pocket chronometer category.
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Ditisheim Type I movement calibre: with movements of this calibre, entirely designed for stability and highest precision, Ditisheim appears to have competed in the majority of its numerous competitions in the categories of deck chronometers and 1st class pocket chronometers in accordance with the competition conditions of the Neuchâtel Observatory. Only about 20 watches with this calibre are known to date. These watches achieved excellent results in the deck chronometer category in Neuchâtel around 1910/1928.
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Paul Ditisheim, 1868-1945, was one of the most important Swiss watch and chronometer makers. He researched and published mainly on the subject of precision timekeeping. After his studies at the watchmaking school in La Chaux-de-Fonds, he worked in Ponts-de-Martel, Berlin, Paris and with Rotherham in Coventry. In 1892 he opened a watch factory in La Chaux-de-Fonds and became one of the most successful pocket and deck chronometer makers soon, winning numerous first prizes in various competitions.