Swiss chronograph with an innovative dial design Circa 1900

Remarkable silver chronograph watch by Nicolet Fils & Cie.
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An exceptional Swiss pocket watch with a counterclockwise rotating minute counter and chronograph, circa 1900. This impressive chronograph movement features a simple silver case and an enamel dial with hour markers, a subdial for tracking minutes in a counterclockwise rotation, a central chronograph hand, and baton-style hands. The movement is a 4/5 plate design with a lever escapement and a screw compensation balance.
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Diameter: 52 mm
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Weight: 116 g
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Signed: Nicolet Fils & Cie.
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In 1892, Nicolet Fils & Cie introduced an exceptional chronograph calibre, which had a minute counter that rotated counterclockwise. Stauffer, Son & Co. equipped their chronographs with this high-quality movement and achieved great success. For instance, their chronographs won three first places in the chronometry category at Kew (London) in 1906 and also received prizes at various sporting events, including the famous Gorden-Bennet Coupe from 1903 to 1905. Nicolet Fils filed various patents for improved chronographs, including patent No. 10582 for a pusher placed opposite the winding stem, which later became a standard position on wrist chronographs. Despite these achievements, Stauffer, Son & Co. did not attain the same level of recognition as the Heuer or Breitling companies. Until 1920, the company existed under the name Atlas Watch Co. The Nicolet Fils chronographs have striking movements that are comparable to the products of companies in the Vallée de Joux.