Swiss chronometer with pivoted detent escapement Circa 1889

Gold hunting cased pocket chronometer by Girard-Perregaux
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A Swiss 18K pink gold hunting cased pocket chronometer probably made for the Spanish or South American market, circa 1889-1900. Model Chronomètre bascule, Spiral Cylindrique à Renversement.
Round-shaped case, engraved in taille-douce on both sides and chiselled with stylized foliage and geometric patterns, varicoloured gold birds and flowers, a central escutcheon on the front cover. White enamel dial with radial Roman hours, an outer minutes track with Arabic five-minute numerals, sunk subsidiary seconds and gold decorative hands. Nickel-plated movement with going barrel, gold screwed chaton on the central wheel, pivoted detent escapement (a so-called à bascule), compensated balance with gold poising screws and a blued steel Breguet hairspring with a large terminal curve to prevent over-banking (à renversement). Dial, case and movement signed. Accompanied by the original fitted box.
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Diameter: 53.2 mm
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Signed: Girard-Perregaux Chaux-de-Fonds
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Girard-Perregaux is one of the few truly authentic Swiss manufacturers. The company not only draws on a big name from the past, but it is also not a brought-up figurehead of some anonymous holding company. Since the beginning of its existence, it has been active in the constant further development of a good mechanical watch with high-quality aspirations. In 1852, Constantin Othenin Girard founded Girard & Cie . Two years later, he married Marie Perregaux. The Girard-Perregaux workshop was established in 1856 in La Chaux-de-Fonds from the merging of their names or through collaboration with Henri Perregaux. The aim of the manufactory is the production of precision watches.