Swiss 14K gold repeating watch with chronograph Circa 1910

Gold lever watch for the Chinese market
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An extremely rare French gold, enamel and pearl set hunting cased minute repeating pocket watch with chronograph made for the Chinese market by Maurice Ditisheim in La Chaux-de-Fonds, circa 1910. The front cover of the case with the polychrome enamel portrait of a lady on a red guilloché sunray ground, the red translucent enamel reverse with a central multicoloured floral depiction surrounded by foliage against a mother-of-pearl background, both bezels set with pearls. Cuvette with a Chinese signature. White enamel dial with radial Roman hours, an outer minute track, Arabic five minute numerals, outermost fifth of a second divisions, subsidiary seconds at 6 o’clock and blued steel spade hands. Frosted gilt movement with a straight line lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance with blued steel Breguet balance spring, an index regulator and a steel chronograph work mounted on the back plate, repeating on gongs activated by a slide in the band.
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Diameter: 47 mm
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Weight: 77 g
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Signed: Maurice Ditisheim La Chaux-de-Fonds
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Maurice Ditisheim, Swiss watchmaker and manufacturer
Maurice Ditisheim was born on December 29th, 1831, in Fleurier and died in 1899. He was the son of Jacques Ditisheim (or Didisheim), born on May 18th, 1797, in Hégenheim, Haut Rhin, Alsace and died in Basel on August 29th, 1880. His mother was Elise Elle Charlotte Bloch (1801-1862). From this marriage, five children were born. Maurice’s brother, Gaspard Ditisheim, founded Ditisheim Frères. Besides Maurice and Gaspard, there was Aron, David and Rosalie Ditisheim.
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Maurice married Berthe Daniels. From this marriage, five children were born, Marthe, Hermann, Elise, Jenny and Albert Ernest Ditisheim. Marthe married Hippolyte Didisheim, Elise married Henri-Albert Didisheim and Jenny married Edgar Didisheim. These three brothers owned the clock factory Albert Didisheim et Frères.
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In 1858, Maurice Ditisheim founded his watch workshop in La Chaux-de-Fonds, which quickly grew into the Maurice Ditisheim manufactory. In 1894, the company produced Vulcain watches for the first time, because it was merged with Gaspard’s Ditisheim Frères, which carried the brand name Vulcain since 1891. In 1896, the brand name Volta was registered. In 1900, the factory had the name Vulcain protected for its watches.
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After Maurice Ditisheim died, his son, Albert Ernest Ditisheim, took over the company. In 1910, it was listed as Ditisheim & Co. Successeurs de Maurice Ditisheim, Fabrique Vulcain. In 1911, the firm was re-listed as Ditisheim & Co., Fabrique Vulcain & Volta. Ditisheim also had the name Grillon and Cricket secured. The Cricket alarm pocket watch was an excellent example the company produced.
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Ditisheim is considered one of the first patrons of the MIH, the international clock and watch museum in La Chaux-de-Fonds.