Swiss silver rare split seconds chronograph Circa 1890

Patented split seconds chronograph
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An extremely rare patented split seconds chronograph “Montre Universelle”, made by Herman Oscar Bovet in Bienne/Biel, Switzerland, circa 1890. This watch features an original silver case and a richly engraved silver back lid with a central acanthus leaf medallion, lily-of-the-valley accents, palmette- and scroll arches, an ivy border and ornate aged silver hardware, enhanced by deep oxidisation for striking relief and contrast. The enamel dial features an outer minute and hour track with Roman hour numerals, a 24 hour counter at 3 o’clock, a minute counter at 9 o’clock, a subsidiary seconds and chronograph dial at 6 o’clock, gold time hands and blued steel hands on the subsidiary dials. The movement is equipped with a lever escapement and engraved Breveté S.G.D.G. (Patented Without Government Guarantee), a legal disclaimer used in France from 1844 to 1968; D.R.P. Ang. (German Imperial Patent Applied For), denoting a patent registration or application pending in imperial Germany and Patent appl. for (“Patent Applied For”, used to claim legal priority and protection in English speaking markets like Great Britain and the United States of America.
The dial and movement are signed.
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Diameter: 54 mm
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Weight: 110 g
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Signed: Bovet Marque Déposée
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The patent for this watch was filed in 1886. The Bovet “Montre Universelle” split seconds chronograph is one of the most technically interesting chronographs of its time.