Swiss 18 carat gold open faced anker chronometer Circa 1905

Gold lever pocket watch
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A well preserved pocket chronometer made by Vacheron Constantin SA in Geneva, Switzerland, circa 1905. This watch has a numbered case crafted from 18 carat gold,
a numbered cuvette inscribed Echappement à ancre – balancier compensé – spiral coudé and demi-chronomètre, the engine turned back lid features a central vacant cartouche. The white enamel dial has Roman hours, outer minute divisions, outermost Arabic five minute numerals, a subsidiary seconds dial at 6 o’clock and gold spade hands. The numbered movement is fitted with an anker chronometer escapement,
fine adjusting device, wolf’s toothing and a moustache lever.
The dial, cuvette and movement are signed.
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Diameter: 49 mm
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Weight: 78 g
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Signed: Vacheron & Constantin Genève
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Vacheron & Constantin used the description Demi Chronomètre, French for half chronometer, to indicate that the movement was sent to the Observatory for chronometric control. But for commercial reasons did not stay long enough to complete the entire test procedure. According to current understanding, only two Geneva companies used the designation “Demi Chronomètre”: Vacheron Constantin and Henry Capt.