Swiss 18 carat gold full hunter minute repeater Circa 1890

Chronometer with split seconds chronograph
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An important chronometer with split seconds chronograph and minute repeater, made by Fritz Piguet & Bachmann, Genève, L. Bachmann successeur in Switzerland, circa 1890. The excellent quality à goutte (waterdrop shaped) case of this watch was crafted from 18 carat gold and features a monogram on the back lid. The enamel dial features an outer minutes track with gold Arabic numerals for minutes and seconds, Roman hour numerals, a subsidiary seconds dial at 6 o’clock and steel hands.
The numbered and glazed movement is fitted with a highly complicated Geneva anker chronometer escapement in top quality, a fine adjusting device, a minute repeater and a split seconds chronograph.
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Diameter: 53 mm
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Weight: 133 g
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Signed: Fritz Piguet & Bachmann, Genève, L. Bachmann successeur
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Fritz Piguet & Bachmann, Genève, L. Bachmann successeur
Fritz Piguet & Bachmann were prominent Swiss pocket watchmakers based in Geneva during the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries. The company was highly regarded for producing technically advanced chronometers and complicated timepieces of the best Geneva quality and began appearing as “Fritz Piguet & Bachmann, Genève, L. Bachmann successeur” in the late 1880’s. This name change occurred when Louis Bachmann (one of the original co founders) became the sole successor to the firm.
The company no longer operates under its original name. It effectively ceased to exist as an independent entity in 1913, when it was taken over by Maison M. Bader. Today, the name “Fritz Piguet & Bachmann” exists primarily in the vintage and auction markets, where their high complication pocket watches remain highly sought after by collectors.
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The combination of split seconds chronograph and minute repeater, as presented here, is a good example of the type of watches the company produced.