Swiss rose gold quarter repeating chronograph Circa 1900

Gold full hunter chronograph
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A large and heavy, extremely fine Swiss 18 carat rose gold hunting cased quarter repeating pocket watch with chronograph made by Maurice Ditisheim in La Chaux-de-Fonds, circa 1900. Glazed rhodium plated movement with 35 jewels, wolf’s tooth winding, a straight line lever escapement, counterpoised cut bimetallic compensation balance, blued steel Breguet balance spring and an index regulator, repeating on gongs activated by a slide in the band, a centrifugal regulator, column wheel chronograph with visible work and push piece in the band at 12 o’clock. White enamel dial with radial Roman hours, an outer minute track, outermost fifth of a second divisions calibrated from 0-300, subsidiary seconds at 6 o’clock and gold Louis XV hands. A polished case, all three lids made of gold.
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Diameter: 57 mm
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Weight: 129 g
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Signed: Maurice Ditisheim La Chaux-de-Fonds
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Maurice Ditisheim, Swiss watchmaker and manufacturer
Maurice Ditisheim was born on December 29th, 1831, in Fleurier and died in 1899. He was the son of Jacques Ditisheim (or Didisheim), born on May 18th, 1797, in Hégenheim, Haut Rhin, Alsace and died in Basel on August 29th, 1880. His mother was Elise Elle Charlotte Bloch (1801-1862). From this marriage, five children were born. Maurice’s brother, Gaspard Ditisheim, founded Ditisheim Frères. Besides Maurice and Gaspard, there was Aron, David and Rosalie Ditisheim.
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Maurice married Berthe Daniels. From this marriage, five children were born, Marthe, Hermann, Elise, Jenny and Albert Ernest Ditisheim. Marthe married Hippolyte Didisheim, Elise married Henri-Albert Didisheim and Jenny married Edgar Didisheim. These three brothers owned the clock factory Albert Didisheim et Frères.
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In 1858, Maurice Ditisheim founded his watch workshop in La Chaux-de-Fonds, which quickly grew into the Maurice Ditisheim manufactory. In 1894, the company produced Vulcain watches for the first time, because it was merged with Gaspard’s Ditisheim Frères, which carried the brand name Vulcain since 1891. In 1896, the brand name Volta was registered. In 1900, the factory had the name Vulcain protected for its watches.
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After Maurice Ditisheim died, his son, Albert Ernest Ditisheim, took over the company. In 1910, it was listed as Ditisheim & Co. Successeurs de Maurice Ditisheim, Fabrique Vulcain. In 1911, the firm was re-listed as Ditisheim & Co., Fabrique Vulcain & Volta. Ditisheim also had the name Grillon and Cricket secured. The Cricket alarm pocket watch was an excellent example the company produced.
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Ditisheim is considered one of the first patrons of the MIH, the international clock and watch museum in La Chaux-de-Fonds.