Swiss nickel digital watch with jumping hours and minutes Circa 1885

Nickel Pallweber pocket watch
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A rare Swiss nickel open faced digital pocket watch with jumping hours and minutes after Pallweber’s patented system, circa 1885. The ½ plate movement with a lever escapement, screw compensation balance and balance stop device, marked BREVETE S.G.D.G. White enamel dial with apertures for the digital hour and minute indication, small auxiliary seconds below (the hand is missing). A solid, plain case. The movement is signed and numbered.
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Diameter: 54 mm
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Weight: 112 g
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Signed: Cortébert Watch Co.
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In contrast to many other jump hour models that have dials filled with inscriptions or fine ornaments, the present watch pleases the eye by showing a more or less plain space that is soothing in its pure simplicity.
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Cortébert Watch Co. was originally founded in Sonvilier by Adam-Louis Juillard as Raiguel Juillard et Cie. in 1790 to produce rough movements. In 1876, the company moved to Cortébert and was renamed Cortébert Watch Co. to reflect its new location. Around 1890, the company started producing complete pocket and wristwatches. In 1927, the company became affiliated with Ébauches SA. Abraham-Louis was the father of Lucien Juillard (1803-1868).
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Josef Pallweber was an Austrian engineer from Salzburg. His registered residence changed several times within the German Empire, from Furtwangen via Frankfurt am Main to Mannheim. The company name, Josef Pallweber & Sohn, was also known in Austria. He is considered the inventor of watches with jumping numerals, also called Pallweber watches, for which he filed a patent in Salzburg in 1883 at age 25.

Pallweber invented the digital time display showing jump hours and minutes for pocket watches with numbers on rotating discs next to the classic hands. Digits indicating the correct hour and minutes were revealed through two apertures on the dial, the seconds were still shown through a small hand on a subsidiary dial.

In the late 19th century, many watch manufacturers had the so-called jump hour watches in their range, among them renowned makers such as A. Lange & Söhne in Glashütte, Germany. However, one of the most prolific producers of this type of watch was the International Watch Company Schaffhausen (IWC).

After granting his patent to the International Watch Company Schaffhausen, Josef Pallweber subsequently licensed his mechanism to display the time in a digital format to other Swiss watch companies, such as Cortébert and Gédéon Thommen, for the French and Belgian markets.