Swiss 18K gold quarter repeating keyless lever watch Circa 1870

Gold open faced repeater
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A fine and rare Swiss 18 carat gold open faced quarter repeating keyless pocket watch, demi chronomètre, made by Henry Capt in Geneva, circa 1870. A polished and engine turned case, the back cover with engraved monogram AH. White enamel dial, radial Roman hour numerals, outer minute divisions, Arabic five minute numerals, subsidiary seconds and blued steel fleur-de-lys hands. Glazed rhodium plated movement, Geneva striping decoration, 31 jewels, wolf’s tooth winding, a gold wheel train, counterpoised straight line lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance, blued steel Breguet balance spring and an index regulator, repeating on gongs activated by a slide on the band. Dial, case and movement signed.
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Diameter: 48 mm
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Signed: Henry Capt  Genève
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Henry Capt used the name demi chronomètre to indicate that the movement was sent to the Observatory for chronometric control, but that, for commercial reasons, it did not remain long enough to complete the entire course of testing. It is thought that only two Genevan firms employed the denomination ‘demi chronomètre’: Henry Capt and Vacheron & Constantin.