French open faced pocket watch with chronograph Circa 1875

Gilt pocket chronograph by Frédéric Rötig
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An extremely rare pocket chronograph, developed by the chronometer maker Rötig, circa 1875.
Gilt display case, both sides glazed, to the left of the crown, a small pusher to release the chronograph. Highly interesting early chronograph movement according to Rötig’s invention, diamond endstone, lever escapement, and plate signed. Perfectly preserved enamel dial with Roman radial hours, outer track with Arabic 1/5th minutes/seconds divisions and 0-300 scale, subsidiary dial for the constant seconds, chronograph, and pink gold spade hands.
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Diameter: 54 mm
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Signed:  Rötig Havre Inventeur
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This is one of the rarest chronograph movements. An example with a gold case was auctioned in Geneva and sold for over 12,650 Swiss Francs in 2004.
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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.