Swiss rose gold quarter repeating chronograph Circa 1898

Rose gold repeating chronograph by Invicta
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An oversized, high quality Swiss 14 carat rose gold hunting cased quarter repeating lever gentlemen’s pocket watch with chronograph, circa 1900. The movement with a lever escapement and one pusher chronograph function, repeating the quarter hours. White enamel dial with Arabic hours, an outer minute track, Arabic five minute numerals, an outermost fifth of a second track and Louis XIV hands. The polished case with an applied monogram on the front. Case numbered, movement signed and numbered.
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Diameter: 56 mm
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Signed: Invicta
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In 1837, Raphaël Picard (1810-1884) founded the company R. Picard in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. Around 1890, the company was renamed Les Fils de R. Picard by successors Armand Picard (1856-1926) and Gabriel Picard (1865-1935). In 1896, Invicta was trademarked as a watch, parts, boxes and packaging brand name. Invicta and Telescope were registered for watches.

By 1911, the name Invicta, which was derived from Latin, meaning ‘invincible’, was included in the company’s name. The company’s motto was to offer high quality Swiss watches at affordable prices. In addition to regular pocket watches, they supplied timepieces with complications such as striking mechanisms, calendars, moon phases and chronographs with movements by Charles-Ami Barbezat-Baillot. In 1906, the company had 26 employees, in 1922, there were 30.

Invicta was still trading in the 1960’s. The company also traded under the names Seeland Watch Co. and Eno Watch Co. Ads for both Invicta and Seeland in 1922 mentioned a Gold Medal won by the firm in 1914 at the Swiss Exhibition in Berne. Fils de R. Picard & Cie, Invicta was listed from 1920 to 1925. Another firm which they were associated with, Seeland, was listed in 1920 for thin watches at the same address as Invicta. In 1923, this firm was listed as both Seeland Atelier de Terminages and Seeland Watch Co. In 1940, Invicta was further imported to the United States by Morris Hoffman as Invicta-Seeland Inc., New York. Seeland became Iseca SA, La Chaux-de-Fonds in 1967. In 1970, Invicta and Waltham were financially integrated. In 1982, Iseca SA was withdrawn from the Register of Commerce by decision of the shareholders. Eventually in 1986, Invicta was listed as a brand of Ondix SA.