Swiss 18 carat gold highly interesting watch Circa 1882

Technically interesting “Seconde Morte” watch
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A technically highly interesting “Seconde Morte” pocket watch, made by B. Haas Jeune & Co. in Genève, Switzerland, circa 1882/Paris No.18758. This watch features an 18 carat gold numbered case with an elaborate monogram with Renaissance motifs on the back, the Geneva maker’s mark B H J. C, arranged in an arc above a G. on the inside of the spring lid and its cuvette is marked with a list of mechanical features and “Genève”, its origin. The enamel dial features an outer minute and hour track with Arabi 5 minute and Roman hour numerals, a subsidiary seconds dial at 6 o’clock and gold hands. The very fine and technically interesting movement is equipped with a straight line lever escapement, wolf’s toothing and a very rare stop mechanism for the independent seconds.
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Diameter: 49.5 mm
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Weight: 90 g
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Signed: No name
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B. Haas Jeune & Co.

It was highly common during this period for top tier Swiss watchmakers not to sign the external dial or dust cover with their full name. Instead, they relied on this precise, legally registered maker’s mark stamped directly into the metal of the case lids to guarantee origin and prevent counterfeits. Which is why on this watch you see the letters B H J. C arranged in an arc above a G on the inside of the spring lid. The letter G stands for Genève where the watch was made.

The company dual headquartered its operations to leverage French commercial prestige and Swiss mechanical expertise. While the brand was officially founded in Geneva in 1848, they expanded to Paris almost immediately to capture the French luxury market. This dual presence continued seamlessly across multiple generations and brand names. It was very common for their pocket watches from this specific era to be dual signed on the dial or inner dust cover as “B. Haas Jeune & Cie – Paris & Genève.”