Swiss 30-hour power reserve ship’s chronometer Circa 1797

Small chronometer with pivoted detent escapement of Louis Berthoud
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An important, very fine, small Swiss ship’s chronometer with pivoted detent escapement of Louis Berthoud, regulator dial and 30h power reserve, circa 1797. Delivered as first of seven ship’s chronometers to the Dutch Navy on 1st of December 1800.
The case is made of mahogany, with brass inlays, top lid with slide, brass gimbals and bowl, three-body silver bowl type case, case maker’s punch mark JCL in a lozenge, and a two-body. The signed and numbered enamel dial has Roman hours at 12, auxiliary seconds, blued Breguet hands, and the reverse side signed by Lucard.
And the signed, frosted, gilt, brass movement has conical tiered movement pillars, chain/fusee with Harrisons maintaining power, three-arm bimetallic chronometer balance with three movable weights and platinum screws, adjustable balance spring fitting device with four screws, blued conical balance spring, and chatoned diamond endstone on balance.
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Diameter: 61 mm
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Dimensions: 123 x 88 x 123 mm
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Signed: Louis Berthoud
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Pierre Louis Berthoud is usually known as Louis Berthoud and was born in 1754 in Plancemont near Couvet in the region of Neuchâtel as the son of Pierre Berthoud. His brothers were Jean Henri and Isaac.
Pierre Louis began his apprenticeship with his father at the age of 12. His uncle Ferdinand soon discovered the boy’s outstanding talent and brought him to Paris to expand his training. Afterwards, the young Berthoud returned to Couvet because even with his uncle’s support he was not able to find a good position. After the suicide of Jean Henri (who had worked in his uncle’s workshop), Ferdinand brought Louis back to Paris in 1784 and put him in charge of the workshop. When he took the position Louis insisted that the books were kept with the greatest diligence. These books are today held by the Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers in Paris.
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Pierre Louis Berthoud took over his uncle’s business after Ferdinand died. He created the famous chronometer no. 9 with a design that was an absolute novelty at the time. This watch is, without doubt, one of the most important timekeepers in the history of French watchmaking and represents the culmination of Berthoud’s work. Pierre Louis Berthoud produced about 150 chronometers; he worked for the observatory and the navy, and was a member of the “Bureau des Longitudes”. ​After his death Breguet took over the position of “Horloger de la Marine”.
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Pierre Louis Berthoud died unexpectedly on September 17, 1813, in Argenteuil. His widow Claire Thérèse Berthoud asked Motel to run the business because her sons Henri and Auguste were still too young to take it over; Motel was also their instructor. Motel trained the young Berthoud brothers until 1817 and managed the business until Henri and Auguste were ready to take over. Montel also trained Jean-Aimé Jacob und Jacques Fesche until 1816.