Swiss double dialled calendar watch with moon phases Circa 1890

Gold hunting cased keyless lever watch by Girard-Perregaux
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A fine and rare Swiss gold hunting cased double dialled keyless lever watch with calendar and moon phases, circa 1890. The watch features a nickel movement with a lever escapement and a bimetallic compensation balance. It has a barrel bridge and backplate which are numbered 78266 and signed by Girard, stamped with the name Alfred Courvoisier Jonais. The calendar mechanism is mounted on a separate plate, hinged into the case and operated through motion work driven by the centre wheel. The calendar advances via a cam with a protruding lever that acts on another lever through an aperture leading to the pearled backplate of the calendar dial. The backplate of the dial is also signed and numbered Girard-Perregaux Chaux-de-Fonds no. 78266.
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Two dials: the front dial is white enamel with Roman numerals, an outer Arabic minute ring, a sunken subsidiary seconds dial, and blued steel spade hands, signed Girard-Peregaux, Chaux-de-Fonds. The back dial is also white enamel, featuring an outer date ring with a central indicator hand, two subsidiary dials for the day and month in Spanish, an aperture for moon phases, and is signed Girard-Perregaux. The case is 18 carat gold, with covers fully chased and engraved with flowers and foliage. The front features a vacant cartouche, and the covers are signed and numbered Girard-Perregaux, 78266, with the case maker’s mark JF N beneath a crown.
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Diameter: 54 mm
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Signed: Girard-Perregaux, Chaux-De-Fonds
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The movement is not running smoothly, and the balance seems sticky, likely due to old oil. The hands are set correctly. The calendar advances at midnight, and all adjusters are functioning. The lever for day advancement operates well when the bezel is open but is stiff when closed. The dials are generally in good condition with a few light scratches. The case is in good condition, maintaining a clear definition in its decoration.
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Girard-Perregaux SA is a luxury Swiss watch manufacturer with its origins dating back to 1791. In 2022, the management of Girard-Perregaux completed a management buyout from the French luxury group Kering. Headquartered in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, the company opened the Girard-Perregaux Museum near its headquarters in Villa Marguerite in 1999. It is best known for the historic tourbillon with three gold bridges, which was awarded a gold medal at the 1889 International Exposition in Paris soon after the launch of the watch. Other notable models from the company include the collection 1966, Vintage 1945 and models such as the Tri-Axial tourbillon and Laureato, an icon inspired by the 70s.