French gold half quarter repeating keyless watch Circa 1847

Gold open faced lever pocket watch
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A very fine, rare and slim French 18K gold Garde Temps half quarter-repeating, jump-hour hand, early keyless watch, circa 1847. Built sur les principes des chronomètres in morocco fitted box. Accompanied by the original certificate, spare dial and a copy of original instructions. sold to Comte Campo Alegro on July 28, 1847 for 4500 francs. Forme collier by master case maker Jules Perot, engine-turned back centred by Count Campo Alegro’s crest, band engraved with laurel-leaf wreath, reeded edges of the bezels.

White enamel dial, Roman numerals, secret signature below 12 o’clock, outer minute divisions, snap-on fit with a gold ring. Gold Breguet hands. A gilt brass movement, five-wheel train, jewelled to the centre (23 jewels), straight-line calibrated lever escapement, cut-bimetallic compensation balance with Breguet balance spring, brass escape wheel with oil-retention holes on every tooth, two-arm cut-bimetallic compensation balance with platinum and gold screws, blued steel Breguet balance spring, double roller, pare-chute on the top pivot, wolf-tooth winding wheels, winding only in one direction, setting by pulling the crown out, repeating on gongs through activating slide in the band. Signed on the dial.
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Diameter: 44 mm
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Signed: Breguet  Paris
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The watch implements the early stem-wound and stem-set keyless system apparently invented by Breguet. However, his early designs featured two separate arbours, one for winding, the other for setting. The arbours were sometimes concentric but were always two in number. This design, alluringly simple, as are many Breguet inventions, consists of a double pinion set on a winding stem constructed in such a way that when one portion is disengaged by pulling the crown, the other becomes engaged. The watch is also of the highest quality, with superbly finished escapement, jeweling to the centre and application of Breguet repetition system. The Count Campo Alegro was no doubt a member of the Bellaroto, or Ballaroto family, of noble Sicilian lineage.