French 18 Carat gold à goutte experimental chronograph Circa 1870

Extremely rare chronograph in original box
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An extremely rare numbered experimental chronograph in original box, made by the chronometer maker ‘Inventeur’ F. Rötig in le Havre, France, circa 1870. The open faced case of this watch was crafted from 18 Carat gold in a waterdrop shape and has an elaborate monogram on the back lid. The white enamel dial has black Roman hour numerals, an outer track with Arabic 1/5^th minutes and seconds divisions and a 0-300 scale, a subsidiary constant seconds dial with black Arabic numerals and a chronograph hand at six o’clock and pink gold spade hands. The extremely rare anker chronometer movement with experimental rare quality chronograph has a lever escapement, a diamond end stone and a plate inscribed ‘Inventeur’.
Case, cuvette, dial, movement and box signed.
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Diameter: 56 mm
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Weight: 143 g
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Signed:  F. Rötig, Havre, Inventeur
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Only a few of these watches are known. To use the chronograph, the lever at eleven o’clock is pushed counter clockwise while the button is pressed. Releasing the pusher stops the chronograph. The absence of an additional pusher reduces the time required to stop. The zero setting is done by pressing down the winding crown. As far as known only one other example of these experimental chronographs was sold at an auction in 2004 for CHF 12.600 2004.
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Frédéric Rötig
Frédéric Rötig (1829-1905) was based in Le Havre as a watch and chronometer maker, in 1869 he patented an improvement in the design of pocket watches. He promoted with the title ‘Constructeur de Chronomètres’ and ‘Inventeur’ for his watches. He was also ‘Horloger de la Marine’ at Le Havre. The name Rötig is not typical in French speaking countries. Frédéric Rötig was born as Johann Friedrich Wilhelm Roetig on January 22, 1829 in Hachenburg/Westerwald. His father was the Hachenburg watchmaker Friedrich Wilhelm Roetig (1782-1861). The animal painter Georges-Frédéric Rötig (1873-1961) from Le Havre was a son of Frédéric Rötig.