Swiss deck watch with 52h power reserve indicator Circa 1924

Silver precision deck watch by Paul Ditisheim
–
An impressive, rare Swiss deck watch with a 52-hour power reserve indicator, circa 1924. One of a very small series of the most impressive precision pocket watches ever built. This watch took part in a chronometer test at the observatory in Neuchâtel in 1924, in the category for marine chronometers 1st class.
Sterling silver, polished case with a reeded band and screw back. Signed, matt silvered dial with radial Roman numerals, auxiliary seconds, 52-hour power reserve indicator, and blued spade hands. Chatoned, frosted, gilt 4/5 plate movement with Ditisheim’s movement type I, nine adj., twenty-one jewels, large Guillaume screw compensation balance, sapphire endstone on balance, lever and escape wheel, and signed: The highest records at Kew Teddington and Swiss Observatories, 1ère Classe, 332 State Prizes.
–
Diameter: 65 mm
–
Weight: 275 g
–
Signed: Paul Ditisheim, La Chaux de Fonds, Grand Prix Paris 1900
–
Movement calibre type I
This type of movement with its calibre designed for stability and highest precision seems to be the one Ditisheim entered in most of the many competitions they took part in (categories ships’ chronometers and pocket chronometers 1stclass, according to the Neuchâtel observatory competition terms). There are 20 watches of this calibre known. These watches achieved superb positionings in the category of ships’ chronometers around 1910/1925 in Neuchâtel.
–
Paul Ditisheim (1868-1945)
He was one of the most famous Swiss makers of watches and chronometers, who did most of his research and his publications in the field of precision timekeeping. He did his apprenticeship at the watchmaking school in La Chaux-de-Fonds, before working in Ponts-de-Martel, Berlin, Paris, and Rotherham (near Coventry). In 1892 he opened up a watchmaking factory in La Chaux-de-Fonds. He presented his watches in many exhibitions and was very successful in designing pocket chronometers.