French 18K gold open faced chronograph watch Circa 1910

Gold open faced lever chronograph watch
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A fine French 18 carat yellow gold open faced pocket chronograph watch, model Aural, made by J Auricoste, circa 1910. It has a mechanical manual wind movement with a lever escapement. The white enamel dial shows black Arabic numerals for hours 1 to 12, an inner spiral tachymeter scale, and an outer track with black Arabic numerals for 5 to 60 minute and seconds markers. There is a subsidiary seconds dial at 6 o’clock and a 30 minute counter register at 12 o’clock. The blued steel hands include a prominent central chronograph sweep hand. The timepiece is housed in a smooth 18 carat solid yellow gold open faced case without an external hinge. It bears a French eagle head warranty hallmark and features a fluted winding crown with an integrated single chronograph pusher, a sturdy round suspension bow, and a plain polished reverse back cover. It is complete with a matching gold cuvette signed J Auricoste.
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Diameter: 48 mm
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Weight: 81 g
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Signed: J Auricoste
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Auricoste is a prestigious French watchmaking house with a celebrated history deeply intertwined with the French military, maritime, and aviation sectors. Founded in Paris in 1854 by Émile Thomas, a specialist in marine chronometers, the firm was taken over by Joseph Auricoste in 1889 and renamed J. Auricoste. The company quickly gained international acclaim for its exceptional precision, earning gold medals at the Paris Universal Expositions in 1889 and 1900. This led to its appointment as an official watchmaker to the French Navy (Horloger de la Marine), the Bureau des Longitudes, and the War Ministry. Specialized early 20th century timepieces like the Aural model were highly regarded as advanced instruments for military and scientific use.
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Following World War II, the house expanded its horological legacy by collaborating with Patek Philippe on electromechanical timekeeping systems for major French warships. Most famously, it introduced the iconic Type 20 Flyback chronograph in 1954, which became standard equipment for French fighter pilots. In later decades, Auricoste solidified its reputation for robust instrumentation by developing professional dive watches for the combat divers of the French Navy in partnership with Spirotechnique. Today, vintage J. Auricoste pocket watches and military chronographs are highly prized by collectors worldwide as authentic symbols of early 20th century French engineering prestige and specialized horological heritage.