Swiss chronometer with pivoted detent escapement Circa 1870

Gold hunting cased pocket chronometer by Girard & Company
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Swiss full hunter cased pocket chronometer with pivoted detent escapement, circa 1870.
Engine turned 18 Carat gold case. Signed white enamel dial with radial Roman numerals, outer minutes track, subsidiary dial for the seconds and gemstone set gold arrow shaped hands. Three bridge movement, key wind, blued gold screw compensation balance.
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Diameter: 50 mm
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Weight: 98 g
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Signed: Girard & Company, London
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What we see here is the forerunner of a construction destined to become world famous the three bridge movement by Girard-Perregaux that reached its culmination in the three bridge tourbillon, highly sought after by collectors and only obtainable at premium prices. This early design has a rare pivoted detent escapement and an unusual balance where the steel part of the bimetal wheel has been blued.
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Girard & Cie.
The Swiss watchmaker Constantin Othenin Girard founded the company Girard & Cie. in 1852 in La Chaux-de Fonds. In 1956, he married Marie, the sister of renowned chronometer maker Henri Perregaux; in the same year, Girard and his brother-in-law established the company Girard-Perregaux which evolved from Girard & Cie. Around 1860 Constant Girard had a small department store in London, where he exported watches marked “Girard, London” to Peru and Chile from; the movement of these watches had been specially gilded.