Swiss pocket watch with patented chronograph Circa 1890

Silver open faced pocket watch by Hermann Bovet
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A rare, heavy Swiss gentleman’s pocket watch with patented chronograph Nouveau système de chronographe-compteur Swiss patent no. 12 – with extensive documentation, circa 1890. The watch has a silver-tiered case. It features an enamel dial with radial Roman hours, auxiliary seconds, 24-hour and 60-minute counters, and blued spade hands. The movement is a 1/2 plate style, frosted and gilt, with the markings No. 18 & 1 Brevet S.G.D.G. Patent Appl. For. Pat. 29. Jan. 89 D.R.P. No 46073 indicating a synchronized zero positioning system for the counters of a pocket watch. It also has a gold screw compensation balance.
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Diameter: 54 mm
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Weight: 139 g
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Signed: Hermann Bovet à Bienne
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Swiss watchmaker Hermann Oskar Bovet, mostly known as Hermann was born in Bienne (Biel) and baptized on September 26, 1848. He was the son of Friederich Bovet (also called Fritz) and Euphrasie Bourquin. Friederich Bovet founded F. Bovet & Cie in Bienne’s “new quarter”. Friederich Bovet is often confused with Frédéric Dit Fritz Bovet (1824-1913), the son of Charles Alphonse Bovet. Hermann Oskar Bovet took over in 1888 the company F. Bovet & Cie. and was located at Zentralstrasse 13 in Bienne.
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Hermann Oskar Bovet specialized in the production of chronographs and stopwatches. He received an Imperial Patent No. 46073 class 83 in the German Empire on June 5, 1888, for a chronograph construction. The patent for the United Kingdom No. 11625 was granted on August 11, 1888, as was the early Swiss Patent No.12, A Swiss Patent No.12. This was followed by U.S. Patent No. 396,914 on January 29, 1889. In October 1889, Hermann Bovet received another Swiss patent with the No.1527 for a “Montre à double chronographe”. In addition to a watch factory, Hermann Bovet also owned a log splitter and sawmill in Biel, where a serious accident happened on May 18, 1887. The log splitter and sawmill were brought to court by Jakob Bühler.
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Hermann Oskar Bovet died unexpectedly without descendants on May 6, 1891, in Bienne, at 42. Due to his age, the father, Friedrich Bovet, could no longer continue the business. Hermann Bovet’s business was closed by auction on September 28, 1891; even Hermann Bovet’s private legacy was up for sale.