Russian 14K gold split-seconds chronograph watch Circa 1900

Gold chronograph by Pavel Buhre
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Russian rarity, a heavy Pavel Buhre anchor chronometer with split-seconds chronograph and register, circa 1900.
Polished 14K red gold á-goutte case, extra heavy and massive quality, with Russian gold hallmark. Cuvette signed In the service of his highness No.203143. Signed (in Cyrillic) enamel dial with Roman radial hours, outer minutes/seconds track with Arabic five minutes/seconds numerals, subsidiary dial for the seconds, 60-minute register, and pear blued steel hands. Anchor chronometer of the finest quality with chronograph rattrapante and lever escapement. A Cyrillic signature, case and movement with matching numbers. Overall, this rarity is nicely preserved and in an old leather case.
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Diameter: 56 mm
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Weight: 133 g
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Signed: Pavel Buhre
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Pavel Buhre is an outstanding Swiss watchmaker who manufactured extremely fine pocket watches for the Russian court of the Tsars. Pocket watches with rattrapante chronographs from his hand are absolute rarities!
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Rattrapante
A double chronograph is a watch that includes two distinct stopwatch mechanisms to measure two separate events concurrently and comparatively. It is often confused with the flyback chronograph.
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Paw(v)el (Paul)Buhré, Russian master watchmaker
Pavel Buhre was one of the first watch companies in Europe. The company was founded by Karl Buhre, a Russian businessman of German descent. At first, the Buhre watch company was located exclusively in St. Petersburg. In 1874, 34-year-old Pavel Buhre, Sr., son of Charles Buhre, decided to purchase a watch factory in Swiss Le Locle. By order of the imperial court, the Buhre factory produced gift watches, which the emperor presented to officials for distinguished public service, foreign diplomats and prominent figures of culture. Buhre watches were also bonuses to officers and non-commissioned officers in the Russian army.
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In 1899 Pavel Buhre was awarded the title of Official Supplier of the Imperial Court and granted the right to use the state coat of arms in its logo. The fact that the title of Official Supplier was bestowed to the company owner personally, not as a legal entity, is the reason the signature of Pavel Buhre is in the logo. Contenders for the title of Official Supplier of the Imperial Court were required to participate in all regional exhibitions established by the Ministry of Finance for eight years and remain free of customer complaints.
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Pavel Buhre watches were awarded top prizes at many national and international exhibitions, including silver and gold medals at World’s Fairs in Paris in 1889 and 1900, respectively. A silver medal in 1889 and a gold medal in 1900. In 1916, Pavel Buhre company received the Swiss patent number 74144 for the in-house chronograph. The Buhre produced exclusive products and watches for the public at large. Prices for a Pavel Buhre watch started at only two rubles and went as high as several thousand. This Russian company became one of the world’s leading producers of affordable watches for the broadest social demographics.