Unique and extraordinary Swiss silver complicated watch Circa 1850

Silver grande and petite sonnerie minute repeater 
–
A unique and extraordinary Swiss silver open faced minute repeating keyless pocket watch with grande and petite sonnerie made by Du Bois & Fils, circa 1850. The case with a hinged gilt cuvette, and concealed levers in the band for silence/sonnerie and grande/petite sonnerie. White enamel face with eccentric dial for time indication featuring radial Arabic hour numerals, outer minute divisions with Arabic quarter hours and blued steel pear hands, and an outermost minute track with Arabic quarter hour markers. The gilt movement has a cylinder escapement. Repeating activated by the push button on top of the pendant.
–
The choice of a large central minute hand that runs parallel to the small hand of the subdial is very rare, technically complex and would only be executed at a customer’s request. It requires a great deal of extra work.
–
Dial and movement signed.
–
Diameter: 62 mm
–
Thickness: 28 mm
–
Weight: 266 g
–
Signed: Du Bois et Fils
–
Reference 0380000
–
A master maker with a rich history
DuBois & Fils is a name with deep roots. The firm celebrated 1785 as its founding date and operated a high end watch manufacture, branding variously as Ph. DuBois or DuBois et fils and now as Du Bois et fils. Around 1850, the period this watch is from, DuBois & Fils was at the forefront of watchmaking innovation. They were known to produce highly complicated pieces, including some of the most sophisticated watches of the era, such as minute repeaters and automaton watches for prestigious clients like the Chinese imperial court.
–
Was it made to order or a signature of quality
A watch featuring a custom display, a full grande and petite sonnerie, and a minute repeater was the pinnacle of horological luxury in 1750. It would not have been a standard production item.
–
When it is made for a customer
It was almost certainly made for a very wealthy and important person. The owner was someone who valued being able to tell the time both by sight and by sound, perhaps a military officer, a doctor or an aristocrat who needed to be punctual in all conditions.
–
A signature of quality
The maker, DuBois & Fils, was known for creating such showpieces that demonstrated their technical mastery. This watch is part of that proud tradition of innovation and bespoke craftsmanship.
–
The present piece is not just a timekeeper, it’s a historical artifact that tells a story of technical brilliance, luxury and a client who demanded the absolute best.
–
Why this combination?
The specific features of this watch come together for a very practical purpose: to provide the time in any situation, whether you can see the dial or not.
–
The double minute hand (the visual solution)
The large central minute hand paired with a smaller subdial for the hour and minute is a clever design for legibility. It allows for the time to be read at a quick glance, which would have been invaluable in low light conditions like a dimly lit room, a carriage at night or a smoky tavern. This is a classic example of customizing a watch to a client’s specific needs, in this case, a preference for easy readability.
–
The sonnerie and minute repeater
This is where the watch truly shines as a masterpiece of custom engineering.
–
Grande sonnerie (full strike)
At each quarter hour, the watch strikes the number of hours first, followed by the number of quarters that have passed since the hour. For example, at 3:45h, it would strike three times for the hour, followed by three times for the three quarters. This is the more complex and demanding mode of the two.
–
Petite sonnerie (small strike)
This is a simpler variation. The watch strikes the full hour only on the hour. At each quarter hour, it strikes only the number of quarters, without repeating the hour. At 3:45h, it would strike three times for the three quarters.
–
Minute repeater on demand
The minute repeater is the ultimate complication of its kind. By pressing a button or slide, the watch uses a series of hammers and gongs to audibly tell you the hours, quarters and minutes. This was the most complex and expensive complication of its time and its presence confirms this is an extraordinary piece.