Fascinating Swiss white gold Art Deco dress watch Circa 1920

White gold lever with jumping 24 hour numerals
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A very fine Swiss, extremely rare, 18 Carat white gold keyless Art Deco dress watch with jumping 24 hour numerals, circa 1920. A polished case with a triangular bow. Matte silver dial, apertures for the jumping hours showing 0-11 in the morning and 12-23 from noon, subsidiary seconds. Blued steel Breguet hands. A rhodium-plated movement, Geneva striping decoration, punched twice with the Seal of Geneva quality mark, 18 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance with blued steel flat balance spring and an index regulator. Dial and case signed movement and case number.
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Diameter: 45 mm
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Signed: Haas Neveux & Cie  Genève
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The dial is slightly oxidized.
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This fascinating watch has the extremely unusual feature whereby the entire 12 numerals jump at 12 o’clock. In the morning the dial shows 0 to 11 o’clock and at midday, the numerals jump to 12 to 23 hours. Haas Neveux was renowned for their high-grade watches, most, including this watch, receiving chronometer rating. They were the first company to make watches with a digital perpetual calendar to a design by Robert Cart. The present watch is a fine example of the Haas Neveux company’s ingenuity.