Swiss gilt full hunter five minute repeating watch Circa 1995

Gilt repeating lever pocket watch
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A fine and rare Swiss gilt hunting cased pocket watch with five minute repetition,
co-produced by Chronoswiss & Kelek, circa 1995. It features a gilt mechanical crown winding full plate movement based on the classic Unitas 6498 caliber, enhanced with Geneva striping decoration, 17 jewels and an integrated striking complication that audibly repeats the hours and past five minute intervals on demand via a slider on the case band. The white enamel dial has black Roman numerals for the hours, an outer dot minute track with Arabic five minute markers, a central script designation Répétition and ornate blued steel Louis XV hands.
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This timepiece is housed in a case elaborately engraved with floral and foliage motifs, enclosing a central vacant shield shaped cartouche on the front hinged spring cover, complemented by a deeply fluted winding crown and a sturdy suspension bow.
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Diameter: 56 mm
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Signed: Chronoswiss Kelek
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This collaborative timepiece represents a modern revival of late 20th century high complication horology. Using the robust, legendary Unitas 6498 ebauche as a foundation, Kelek integrated its proprietary five minute repeating mechanism. Encased in a richly decorated, period style floral hunter case, this model bridges the gap between historical Swiss craftsmanship and modern manufacturing precision.
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Kelek SA was a Swiss watch manufacturer founded in 1896 in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, known for mechanical complications, chronographs and pocket watch movements.
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Initially, the company manufactured complicated watches, such as chronographs, primarily for the military. Later, they specialized in complex mechanical complications such as repeaters and automatons.
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In the 1960s, director and master watchmaker Gabriel Feuvrier met Willy Breitling, leading to a close collaboration. This partnership intensified over the following years, and Kelek played a key role in developing various complications for Breitling.
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In 1997, Kelek merged into Breitling, from 2002 onwards, operating under the name Breitling Chronométrie.
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Prior to this, there had already been a collaboration with the manufacturer Chronoswiss founded by Gerd-Rüdiger Lang in 1983 in Munich. A successful German-Swiss co-branding from the 1980s and 1990s. By joining forces, Chronoswiss brought extremely rare and complex masterpieces to market, recognisable by the shared signature on the dial.