German gold keyless lever chronograph watch with register Circa 1910

Open faced pocket chronograph watch by J. Assmann
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A German gold open faced keyless lever chronograph watch with register, circa 1910, retailed by Spangenberg y Freccero. The watch features a frosted gilded 2/3 plate movement with a gold lever and escape wheel, several jewels housed in screwed chatons, a bimetallic compensation balance, precision swan neck regulation, diamond endstone, and a steel chronograph mechanism partially visible through the backplate. It has a white enamel dial, signed J. Assmann, Glashütte, I/Sachsen, with a sunken centre, Roman numerals, and two recessed subsidiary dials for constant seconds and a 30 minute register, along with outer tracks for minutes and chronograph seconds, and gold hands. The Swiss plain polished 18 carat gold case features a chronograph pusher through the crown, an olivette for hand setting beside the pendant, and a gold cuvette engraved for the retailer: Spangenberg y Freccero, Calle 25 de Mayo 320, Montevideo. The back cover is signed J. Assmann, Glashütte, with the cover and cuvette numbered and adorned with Swiss and German marks.
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Diameter: 54 mm
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Signed: J. Assmann, Glashütte i/Sachsen
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Movement is functioning: the chronograph activates, stops, and resets correctly. The minute register was tested for the first 7 minutes of recording and appears to be operating accurately. Visible surfaces seem to be in generally good condition. The dial is somewhat dirty but appears to be in good condition. The tail of the chronograph seconds hand is slightly bent. The case has been repolished in the past, with some indentations on the back—noticeably at the lower left edge and upper right edge, as well as further indentation to the left of centre. There is scratching around the case opening. The glass is a little loose.
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Julius Assmann, along with Adolf Lange, Adolf Schneider, and Moritz Grossmann, is regarded as one of the founding members of the Glashütte watchmaking industry. Assmann joined the Lange firm in 1850 and collaborated with Lange for two years before establishing his own company, an endeavour supported by Lange.
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Assmann concentrated on cultivating strong relationships with America and earned a reputation as an elite watchmaker both there and in Germany. As a result of his efforts, he gained access to the South American market, for which he produced a range of specially made pieces.
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Francisco J. Freccero founded the Freccero jewellery store in Montevideo in 1868, at a young age, together with Oscar Spangenberg. To this day, the business is in the hands of family members.