Swiss deck watch with 52h power reserve indicator Circa 1924

Silver deck watch by Paul Ditisheim
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An important Swiss deck watch with 52h 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 pocket chronometers 1st class. With an extract from the chronometer archives by Andreas Hidding.
The case is sterling silver. It has a matt silvered dial, a 4/5 plate movement, Ditisheim’s movement type I, and a large Guillaume screw compensation balance. Case, dial and movement signed.
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Diameter: 65 mm
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Weight: 275 g
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Signed: Paul Ditisheim, La Chaux de Fonds, Switzerland
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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 1st class, according to the Neuchâtel observatory competition terms). So far 20 watches with this calibre are known. These watches achieved superb positionings in the categorie ships’ chronometers around 1910/1925 in Neuchâtel.
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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.