Swiss split seconds chronograph with diablotine Circa 1870

Gold heavy split seconds chronograph
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A heavy pocket watch with split seconds chronograph, independent center seconds and diablotine made by Huguenin & Grezet in Le Locle, Switzerland, circa 1870. The numbered full hunter case of this watch was crafted from 18 carat gold and engine turned on both sides. The white enamel dial has Arabic five minute and Roman hour numerals, a fifth of a second track, a quarter second dial at 6 o’clock and original moon hands. The glazed movement has a highly complicated precision lever escapement with tandem winding, an independent split seconds chronograph with flashing quarter seconds.
The cuvette and case have matching numbers, and the case, cuvette, dial and movement are signed.
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Diameter: 56 mm
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Weight: 160 g
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Signed: Huguenin & Grezet Locle
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These highly refined and highly complicated chronographs were developed by Huguenin and sold by various companies. The basis for this first generation of independent split second chronographs was Adolphe Nicole’s patent from 1862. The watch is of exceptional quality and appears almost unused after 150 years.
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Diablotine
The feature known as a diablotine is a small subsidiary dial on a chronograph or independent center seconds pocket watch, the hand of which moves in a jumping manner at intervals of 1/4 or 1/5th of a second. The term means little devil. The diablotine is halted when the chronograph or center seconds is stopped and the fractions of a second can be read.