Rare Swiss silver eight day lever with visible balance Circa 1919

Silver eight day going pocket watch
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A Swiss silver hunting cased eight day lever pocket watch with visible balance, London hallmarked (import) for 1919. The Hebdomas keyless eight day going movement with a club foot lever escapement and an uncut bimetallic balance with overcoil hairspring, the large mainspring barrel covering the back of the watch is marked 8 Jours Ancre – Qualité Supérieure Garantie – Spiral Breguet Levees Visible – Swiss Made. White enamel dial with off center time indication featuring radial Roman hour numerals in translucent violet enamelled cartouches, an outer minute track and blued steel kite/diamond hands, silver decoration above and below, a finely engraved bridge on the left over a polished steel regulator and visible balance. A case with decoratively engraved covers on both sides, the front with a vacant shield shaped cartouche and maker’s mark GS in a rectangle. Dial signed Hebdomas Patent 8 Days Swiss made.
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Diameter: 50 mm
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Signed: No name
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The name Hebdomas is derived from the Ancient Greek word for week/the seventh day. It refers to the watch’s ability to run for at least a week on a single winding.

A Hebdomas pocket watch is a timepiece known for its eight day, hand wound movement, off center time indication and a visible balance wheel mounted to a dial side bridge, a feature that makes Hebdomas watches instantly recognizable, and is typically gilded and engraved with a decorative floral motif. A massive mainspring barrel covers the entire diameter of the movement, rotating around the center similar to an automatic rotor.

Most Hebdomas watches feature the name centered in the dial and 8 Jours engraved on either side of the balance. Mostly also featuring a flower or arrow design above.