Swiss 18K gold anker chronometer with chronograph Circa 1908

Gold open faced anker chronometer 
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A numbered Observatory chronometer with chronograph and an extract from the chronometer database, tested in Neuchâtel and made by Paul Ditisheim in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, circa 1908. The plain open faced extremely solid case of this watch was probably crafted later from 18 carat gold. The numbered and white enamel dial has Arabic hour numerals, outer minute divisions with Arabic five minutes, an outermost fifth of a second track, a subsidiary seconds dial at 6 o’clock, a 30 minute counter at 12 and blued steel moon hands. The numbered Observatory movement has a very fine anker chronometer escapement with a cylindrical hairspring, wolf’s teeth and chronograph.
Dial signed.
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Diameter: 51 mm
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Weight: 111 g
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Signed: Paul Ditisheim Fabricant
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Paul Ditisheim
Paul Ditisheim (1868-1945) was one of the most famous Swiss makers of watches and chronometers, who did most of his research and his publications in the field of precision timekeeping. He did his apprenticeship at the watchmaking school in La Chaux-de-Fonds, before working in Ponts-de-Martel, Berlin, Paris and Rotherham (near Coventry). In 1892, he opened a watchmaking factory in La Chaux-de-Fonds. He presented his watches in many exhibitions and was very successful in designing pocket chronometers, usually with lever escapement. He developed for example a navy chronometer with an exchangeable escapement system. Ditisheim and Charles-Edouard Guillaume worked together in developing and testing temperature independent metal alloys.