Swiss precision watch made for the American market Circa 1912

Gold water drop shaped case
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A fine numbered precision watch made for J.E. Caldwell & Co based in Philadelphia,U.S.A by H.R. Ekegrén in Genève, Switzerland, circa 1912. The numbered and open faced case of this watch is crafted from 18 carat gold and has a central monogram on the back lid. Its cuvette is inscribed with a gift dedication from 1912. The white enamel dial has an inner ring with Arabic hour numerals, outer minute divisions, subsidiary seconds at 6 o’clock and pink gold Breguet hands. The Geneva precision movement made by Edouard Koehn has a lever escapement, 21 jewels, is regulated in eight positions, has wolf’s toothing and a fine adjusting device.
Dial and movement are signed H.R. Ekegrén Geneva, the movement is also signed Made by E^D Koehn, the case and movement have matching numbers. Comes with the original special presentation box signed Spaulding Chicago.
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Diameter: 46 mm
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Weight: 72 g
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Signed: H.R. Ekegrén Geneva   
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Henri-Robert Ekegrén
Henri-Robert Ekegrén (1823-1896) was the son of Swedish watchmaker Daniel Ekegrén, he worked for Jules Jürgensen in Le Locle, Winnerl in Paris and Henri Golay in Geneva, where he arrived in 1847. In 1857 he formed a partnership with Ferdinand Westermann. At the 1867 Exhibition, he displayed 36 watches, winning a gold medal. Subsequent exhibitions – Vienna in 1873, Paris in 1875, Philadelphia in 1876, Paris again in 1878 and Zurich in 1883 – brought him and his collaborator Louis Chevalier further honours and recognition. The company of H.R. Ekegrén continued after his death.
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Edouard Koehn
Edouard Koehn (1839-1908) Was the son of Karl Koehn, a watchmaker to the court of the Grand Duchy of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach. He came to Geneva in 1859 and studied at the Ecole d’Horlogerie. In 1861, he began working at Patek Philippe, as a mere employee. After 15 years of loyal service, he became Director. In 1891, Edward Koehn left Patek and bought the Robert Ekegrén firm. Koehn constructed very high quality flat and extra flat watches, repeating watches, chronographs, and fly back chronographs. The firm, at the Grand Quai, made watches for Tiffany, New York and on June 8, 1912, patented a watch with hanging barrel and pendant winding. Edouard Koehn passed on his expertise to his son Edouard Koehn Jr who perpetuated the tradition until the 1930’s. On the death of his father in 1908 he became head of the house and with improvements in methods and the constant and keen supervision, he produced a high degree of uniformity in precision timepieces of very high quality.
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 J.E. Caldwell & Co
 J.E. Caldwell & Co. was a major jewellery retailer and one time silversmith in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The company was founded at 163 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, by watchmaker James Emmot Caldwell in 1839. In 1843 the firm became the partnership of Bennett & Caldwell, then in 1848 was renamed J.E. Caldwell & Co. It produced its own silverware until the early 1850’s, but subsequently the word “manufacturer” disappeared from its advertising. The firm experienced rapid growth from the start and repeated enlargements and removals were made necessary from time to time to gain the greater facilities demanded. The Marble Building located at 822 Chestnut Street was inaugurated in December 1858. Before its ten year lease expired, the company moved in 1867 to its main location, 902 Chestnut Street. That store was destroyed during a fire in 1869. Caldwell went to work and before the smoke lifted from the ruins of the destroyed building, he had the present palatial structure contracted for.

J.E. Caldwell & Co. acquired a national reputation through its silver services presented to battleships and cruisers of the US Navy. It exhibited at The Centennial Exposition in 1876, representing the American Jewelry Maker. By the late 19^th century richly decorated table china by Spode and Mintons was being produced bearing underglaze backstamps indicating that they were made expressly for J.E. Caldwell & Co., Philadelphia.

After Caldwell’s death in 1881, his son James Albert Caldwell became head of the company. In 1952 Austïon Homer became president, and the following year began an ambitious store expansion program. After a decline in fortune, however, Caldwell & Co. was purchased by Henry Birks & Sons of Montreal and then in August 1992 acquired by Carlyle & Co. of Greensboro, North Carolina. Its flagship Philadelphia store at 1339 Chestnut Street closed in 2003, followed by the remaining branches in 2009. As of 2019 a succeeding company had revived the J. E. Caldwell name with a single store on Jewelers’ Row in Philadelphia.