Swiss heavy open faced silver lever deck watch Circa 1910

Silver deck watch by Paul Ditisheim
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An important Swiss heavy open faced silver deck watch, circa 1910.
Silver polished case with a reeded band. Signed matt silvered dial with radial Roman numerals, auxiliary seconds, and blued spade hands. 2/3 plate movement, type II, frosted and gilt, with a Guillaume screw compensation balance, a blued Breguet balance spring with two terminal curves by Phillips, a sapphire endstone on balance, and a lever and escape wheel.
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Diameter: 63 mm
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Weight: 220 g
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Signed: Paul Ditisheim, La Chaux de Fonds – Maker to the US Navy. Grand Prix Paris 1900
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Paul Ditisheim (1868-1945)
He was one of the most famous Swiss makers of watches and chronometers, who did most of his research and his publications in the field of precision timekeeping. He did his apprenticeship at the watchmaking school in La Chaux-de-Fonds, before working in Ponts-de-Martel, Berlin, Paris, and Rotherham (near Coventry). In 1892 he opened up a watchmaking factory in La Chaux-de-Fonds. He presented his watches in many exhibitions and was very successful in designing pocket chronometers.