French gold pocket watch with experimental chronograph Circa 1870

Gold pocket chronograph by chronometer maker Frédéric Rötig
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An extremely rare French 18K gold experimental chronograph, circa 1870.
18K gold, à-goutte, engine turned case, back with elaborate monogram, signed and numbered dome, and plate signed and inscribed Inventeur. Original enamel dial, as well signed Inventeur, with Roman radial hours, outer track with Arabic 1/5th minutes/seconds divisions and 0-300 scale, subsidiary dial for the constant seconds, chronograph hand, and pink gold spade hands. Extremely rare Ankerchronometer movement with experimental chronograph, extremely rare quality, diamond endstone. Accompanied by the original box.
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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 11 is pushed counterclockwise 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.
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Frédéric Rötig, French watchmaker
Rötig, Frédéric (1829-1905) was a clock and chronometer maker based in Le Havre. In 1869 he patented an improvement in the construction of pocket watches. He advertised his watches with the titles Constructeur de Chronomètres and Inventeur. He was also Horloger de la Marine in Le Havre. His shop was located at Place de l’Hôtel-de-Ville, later at 51 Rue de Paris. He also delivered watches to America.
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The name Rötig is not typical in the French-speaking world. 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.