Swiss 14K gold split seconds Rattrapante chronograph Circa 1880

Gold keyless lever pocket watch
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A fine Swiss 14 carat yellow gold keyless pocket watch made by C.L.  Guinand in Le Locle, circa 1880. A solid, polished case, and the back cover was engraved “Jinny”. Open faced with a with split second rattrapante chronograph and 30 minute register. White enamel dial with Arabic numerals indicating the hours, an outer minute and fifth of a second track with Arabic red five minute markers, subsidiary seconds at 6 o’clock, 30 minute counter at 12 and blued hands. The movement has a lever escapement. Chronograph work, repeating on gongs activated by a slide on the band. Signature on the case, dial and movement.
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Diameter: 50 mm
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Signed: C.L.  Guinand  Le Locle
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A split seconds chronograph or rattrapante is a type of chronograph watch with two coaxial superimposed center seconds hands that are controlled by two push buttons. One push button controls the split seconds hand to stop or join the chronograph hand. The other push-buttons control both hands and all the functions of the chronograph. The chronograph hand and the split-seconds hand are used for timing several events that start simultaneously, but are of different durations.
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To operate the split seconds chronograph, both hands are started and remain superimposed. Then, at the end of the first duration, the split seconds hand can be stopped while the chronograph hand continues to move. The duration of the first event can be read. After recording, the split seconds hand can be released to instantly move and join the chronograph hand, synchronising with it and thus being ready for another recording. At the end of each event, the hands then can be stopped and returned to zero.