Fine Swiss silver open faced lever pocket watch Circa 1907

Silver anker chronometer by Paul Ditisheim
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A fine Swiss silver open faced anker chronometer, circa 1907. 2/3 Plate movement with caliber type IV, a piston tooth lever escapement and Guillaume screw compensation balance. The plain case with maker’s mark PD and a gold bracket. Cuvette inscribed Exposition Universelle Paris 1900 Grand Prix Premier aux Concours Chronomètriques des Observatoires de Kew Washington & Neuchâtel. Matt silver plated dial with Roman hours, an outer minute track, subsidiary seconds at 6 o’clock and blued spade & whip hands. Dial and movement signed and numbered, case numbered, movement and case with matching numbers.
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Diameter: 60 mm
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Weight: 211 g
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Signed: Paul Ditisheim La Chaux-de-Fonds Grand Prix 1900
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So far only two other watches are known with a caliber type IV movement.
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A caliber type IV is very similar to a caliber type II movement. It has a 2/3 plate with a curved contour (different from movement type II), which could vary slightly, an overhead ratchet and crown wheel and a normal bimetallic compensation balance or Guillaume balance. The oldest of the three examples known has movement No. 15578 and is equipped with both a small and a central seconds hand. This watch was first tested in Neuchâtel in 1899 and achieved a less satisfactory result. In a second test in 1902, it came fourth in the 1st class pocket chronometer class. The other watch, No. 24596, has a power reserve indicator and won third place in the 1st class pocket chronometer category at the Neuchâtel Observatory in 1908. The present, third known watch of movement type IV without a power reserve display was probably made before 1908. No observatory tests can be proven.
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Paul Ditisheim, born in 1868 and died in 1945, was one of the most important Swiss watch and chronometer makers. He researched and published primarily on topics of precision time measurement. After training at the Watchmaking School in La Chaux-de-Fonds, he worked in Ponts-de-Martel, Berlin, Paris and Rotherham in Coventry. In 1892 he opened a watch factory in La Chaux-de-Fonds and soon became one of the most successful pocket and on-board chronometer makers, winning numerous first prizes in countless competitions.