Swiss gold chronometer with one-minute tourbillon Circa 1867

Gold hunting cased chronometer
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An extremely fine, rare and important Swiss 18k gold hunting cased keyless pocket watch, circa 1867. Chronometer with a one-minute tourbillon regulator. Controlled at the Neuchatel Observatory in 1867. A massive case, a glazed cover for the movement (glass missing). Enamel dial with black Roman numerals, outer minute track, sunk subsidiary seconds and Blued steel Breguet hands. Rhodium plated with Geneva striping decoration, 15 jewels, pivoted detent escapement, two armed cuts bimetallic balance with gold poising screws, blued steel balance spring with terminal curve and arc limiting pin. Ernest Guinand’s first type of polished steel tourbillon carriage was driven by the minute wheel. In very good condition.
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Diameter: 60 mm
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Thickness: 20 mm
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Signed: Ernest Guinand  Le Locle
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Ernest Guinand(c. 1810-1879). Guinand was an important Master Horologist from Le Locle, who, along with Auguste Grether from Ponts-de-Martel (1817-1879), specialized in the production of tourbillon carriages. According to the records of the Neuchatel Observatory, Guinand’s production of tourbillons began between 1865 and 1867. He designed three models of Tourbillon carriages, always based on an A-shaped frame. He worked for several important makers, including Girard-Perregaux and Montandon. Most of Guinand’s carriages were equipped with a pivoted detent escapement, one with a spring detent and some with a lever escapement. Most of his carriages were not signed and can only be identified by their characteristic A-shape. In 1864 Patek Philippe chose him to build their first tourbillon regulator.