Large Swiss silver 8 day lever in travelling case Circa 1888

Large silver patent 8-day Swiss lever
–
A very large Swiss lever watch of 8 days duration in a silver open-faced case and travelling case, hallmarked Birmingham circa 1888. Reversed three quarter plate gilt keyless movement. Compensation balance with blue steel overcoil hairspring. Polished steel index was adjusted by removing the front bezel. Club tooth straight line lever escapement. Opening the back single cover reveals an open centrally placed barrel with a visible blue steel mainspring under a glass, almost the diameter of the movement, wound by a folding key. In the center a brass thumb wheel is used to set the hands.   Large white enamel dial with bold Roman numerals and blue steel hands. Substantial large plain silver open face case. Maker’s mark ‘HG’ in an oval.   In a fitted red morocco case lined with velvet, signs of an easel stand, now lacking.
–
Diameter: 71 mm
–
Signed: Jacot & Bovet
–
Jacot and Bovet took out the Swiss patent for this mechanism (No 496) in February 1896. Although the hallmark pre dates the patent, the case is undoubtedly original to the movement. See Technique and History of the Swiss Watch plate 144 for a similar watch.