Swiss gold chronograph with Guillaume balance and register Circa 1900

Gold watch accompanied by leather box
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A large Swiss 18 carat gold keyless pocket watch, circa 1900. With a chronograph, progressive 30 minute register and Guillaume balance. Accompanied by the original Ulysse Nardin fitted leather covered box. A polished case and a hinged gold cuvette. White enamel dial with painted radial Roman numerals, outer minute divisions, outermost chronograph track divided into fifths, Arabic five minute/seconds numerals, subsidiary seconds and blued steel spade hands. Nickel plated movement, Geneva striping decoration, straight line calibrated lever escapement. Dial, case, cuvette and movement signed.
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Diameter: 56 mm
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Signed: Ulysse Nardin  Le Locle
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Accompanied by the original box
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Ulysse Nardin SA is a Swiss luxury watchmaking company. Founded in 1846 in Le Locle, Switzerland bearing the name of its founder Ulysse Nardin. It has remained in continuous production since. The company became best known for manufacturing highly accurate marine chronometers (of which the anchor in the company logo is a reminder nowadays) used by over 50 of the world’s navies from the end of the 19th century till 1950. Furthermore, pocket watches with complications such as moon phases, a perpetual calendar, repetition and an alarm function were produced. According to the last official report of Neuchâtel Observatory in Switzerland, Ulysse Nardin had won numerous awards and honours for its marine chronometers from 1846 to 1975, including 4324 certificates, 2411 special prizes and 18 gold medals at International exhibitions.
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Ulysse was born in 1823 in Le Locle, Switzerland. He first trained as an apprentice horologist under his father, Léonard Fédéric Nardin and perfected his skills under the tutelage of Frédéric William Dubois and Louis JeanRichard dit Bressel. Two master watchmakers who were experts in precision watches and whose fame extended beyond the mountains of Neuchâtel. Ulysse established his own workshop at the age of 23. Despite growing up in the Jura mountains, he was fascinated by the sea and therefore produced nautical timekeeping instruments. The number of employees in 1900 was an impressive 300. The company was taken over and re-invigorated in 1983 by Rolf W. Schnyder who transformed it into a profitable business. Since 2014, it has been a subsidiary of the French luxury group Kering. Ulysse Nardin has operated out of the same building headquartered in Le Locle since 1865.