French gunmetal and gold anker chronometer Circa 1890

Gunmetal anker chronometer stamped with Viper’s Head
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An Observatory anker chronometer made by Horloger de la Marine, G. Charpentier in Paris, France, circa 1890. The numbered, decorative open faced case of this watch, made of gunmetal and gold, has a monogram on the back lid and its cuvette is marked with technical details of the movement and inscribed L.F.&F. Paris 1878-1889 Médailles d’Or. The white enamel dial has Arabic hour numerals, outer minute divisions, subsidiary seconds at 6 o’clock and gold spade hands. The movement is fitted with a moustache lever escapement, chronometer balance wheel and wolf’s tooth winding, it is further hallmarked with the Viper’s Head of the l’Observatoire de Besançon.
The cuvette is signed.
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Diameter: 51 mm
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Weight: 113 g
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Signed: G. Charpentier
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The Viper hallmark
In pocket watchmaking, the Viper’s Head (Tête de Vipère) is a prestigious certification from the Besançon Astronomical Observatory in France, awarded to exceptionally precise, chronometer certified, mechanical watches, including some rare pocket watches, signifying superior accuracy, as seen with TAG Heuer’s ‘Tête de Vipère’ editions.
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Tête de Vipère translates to Viper’s Head and comes from the specific mark stamped on watches certified by the Besançon Observatory. It’s a rigorous test of a watch’s accuracy, confirming it meets high chronometer standards, often exceeding typical requirements. Only a limited number of timepieces, including some high end pocket watches, receive this distinction, making them highly valued.