Fine Swiss hunting cased quarter repeating pocket watch Circa 1910

Niëllo silver repeating keyless lever watch by LePhare
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A fine and rare Swiss niëllo silver open faced quarter repeating keyless pocket watch commemorating the Tir Cantonal du Centenaire, Genève, Suisse, 1814-1914, circa 1914. Accompanied by a silver chain and medallion fob.
Four-body and demi bassine case, the bezel, band and bow with damascened oak, laurel and berry decoration, the back decorated with the arms of Geneva within an oak and laurel leaf border. Hinged silver cuvette further engraved with the arms of Geneva.
White enamel dial with black Arabic numerals, an outer minute track, inner red 24 hour numerals, subsidiary seconds and gold spade hands.
Frosted gilt movement with 23 jewels, straight line lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance, Breguet balance spring, index regulator and repeating on gongs activated by a button in the band.
Dial and movement signed.
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Diameter: 54 mm
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Signed: Le Phare
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The Le Phare watch manufactory was founded in 1888 in Le Locle, Switzerland, high in the Neuchâtel mountains. The company, which later launched the Jean d’Eve watch range, has left its mark on the story of Swiss watchmaking. Indeed, from 1889, its watches were rewarded by the most eminent prizes, a gold medal at the National Exhibition of 1896 in Geneva followed that of 1889 at the Great Universal Exhibition in Paris. In 1897 the silent regulator was invented. A veritable technological marvel that overcame the humming problems beset by the repeater watches of the day. This brought another gold medal for Le Phare at the Paris Great Exhibition of 1900. The company continued to develop and in 1970 was the second largest producer of chronograph watches in Switzerland. The management’s strategy is to take maximum advantage of its remarkable know how to develop new ways of measuring time.