Swiss 18 carat gold split seconds chronograph Circa 1890

Pocket watch with a chronograph counter
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A  large very fine split seconds chronograph with a counter in an old, presumably original sales box, made by Emile Gander & Fils in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, circa 1890. The case of this watch was crafted from 18 carat gold and the cuvette is engraved with the medals of honour won and a number of the watch’s technical specifications: Chronograph, Compteur, Rattrapante, Haute precision and 20 jewel bearings (rubies). The enamel dial features an outer track with a 1/5^th of a second chronograph scale for precise measurement, a minute and hour track with Arabic 5 minute – and hour numerals, a running seconds subsidiary dial at 6 o’clock, a 30 minute chronograph counter at 12 o’clock and gold hour and minute hands, along with dual superimposed chronograph seconds ornate blued steel hands. The numbered extremely fine movement is equipped with a straight line lever escapement, a split seconds chronograph and 20 rubies.
The dial and cuvette are signed.
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Diameter: 53.5 mm
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Weight: 97 g
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Signed: Gander Watch
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Gander
Gander & Fils (originally operating as Emile Gander or later Emile Gander & Fils) was an active Swiss watchmaker based in La Chaux-de-Fonds around 1890. The company was founded in 1880 by Emilio (Emile) Gander in the historic watchmaking hub of La Chaux-de-Fonds. They specialised in manufacturing pocket watches, cases, dials, and components, and eventually expanded into high quality watches with complex movements.

The brand transitioned out of Switzerland and shifted through generations of the Gander family before closing.  Marco Gander relocated the main operations from La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, to Milan, Italy, in 1927. They focused on distributing and selling high end Swiss watches under the Gander umbrella.

The company continued after WWII under the leadership of Jean Gander, designing notable mechanical wristwatches and chronographs using quality movements.

The headquarters moved one last time from Milan to Como, Italy, in 1980 and was managed by Paolo Gander. Facing intense competition from the global “Quartz Crisis” that decimated traditional mechanical watchmakers during that era, the brand ceased all operations and officially shut down in the 1980’s