Swiss montre à tact pocket chronometer with calendar Circa 1870

Gold hunting cased montre à tact pocket watch by Henry Robert Ekegrén 
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A rare and unusual Swiss gold hunting cased montre à tact pocket chronometer watch with day and date, circa 1870. Gilded movement featuring a spring detent escapement, a bimetallic compensation balance, and a wolf’s tooth winding mechanism. White enamel dial adorned with Roman numerals, an outer minute ring, and three subsidiary dials displaying the day, date, and constant seconds, complemented by blued steel hands.
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The 18 carat gold case is intricately chased and engraved with stylised flower heads and geometric motifs. A rotating case back features engraved Roman hour indexes around the bezel and a raised touch pin for time indication, with the band incorporating raised touch pins at the hours. The polished gold cuvette is signed and engraved with Chronomètre H. R. Ekegrén, Genève, including a central aperture for the à tact mechanism. Additional details include a gold pendant and bow, with the cuvette and case back numbered 14546 and the front cover numbered 46.
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Diameter: 53 mm
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Signed: H.R. Ekegrén Genève
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The movement is running and operational. The hands adjust correctly using the lever beneath the bezel at 5 o’clock. There is a recessed push piece next to the pendant, presumably for adjusting the date; however, it is currently nonfunctional. The dial has a very small hairline crack at the edge near 2 o’clock and another near 3 o’clock, but overall, it is in good condition. The case is also in good overall condition, with crisp and well defined engraving. The central cartouche on the front case may have been added later. The hour markers show wear at 7, 6, and 5. The montre à tact plate spins smoothly, though there is some wear on the outer numerals, particularly on the lower half.
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Henry Robert Ekegrén (1823-1896) was born in Denmark. He apprenticed at Urban Jürgensen in Copenhagen, worked for Jules Jürgensen in Le Locle, and spent time in London and Paris, including a position with Winnerl and Adolph Lange. Ekegrén worked a year for Henri Golay and then spent 10 years at Golay-Leresche’s successor company. His unique combination of a chronometer escapement with a tact, day, and date indication showcases his creative genius. By 1891, Ekegrén’s firm was sold to Ed. Koehn, who left Patek Philippe to make the purchase. Koehn renamed the company Edouard Koehn but continued signing his high grade watches’ H.R. Ekegrén’ into the 1920s.