German 18 carat gold pocket chronometer Circa 1880

Pocket watch for the Hispanic market
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One of the earliest pocket chronometers from the Glashütte watchmaking school, made for the Hispanic market by Ferdinand von Pflummern in Glashütte, Germany, circa 1880. This watch features a case crafted from 18 carat gold, engine turned lids, an empty cartouche on the spring lid and a cuvette marked “Chronometro”. The enamel dial features an outer minute and hour track with Arabic hour numerals, a subsidiary seconds dial at 6 o’clock and blued steel hands. The quality 1 A,  glazed and numbered movement is fitted with a Grossmann pivoted detent escapement, a Grossmann fusee and screwed gold chatons.
The movement is signed.
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Diameter: 53.5 mm
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Weight: 110 g
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Signed: F. v. Pfummern Glashütte
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Only about 15 pocket chronometers were made at the Glashütte watchmaking school. This example from 1880 is one of the earliest surviving pocket chronometers. After testing, it was probably intended for sale to the Hispanic market, hence the Spanish name ‘Chronometro’.