Swiss silver watch with special lever escapement Circa 1821

Technically highly interesting pocket watch
–
A technically fascinating pocket watch with an experimental pirouette lever escapement, made by Frédéric Louis Favre in le Locle, Switzerland circa 1821. The numbered open faced plain case of this watch was crafted from silver in English design and still has the original dust cover. The white enamel dial has Arabic hour numerals, a subsidiary 15 seconds counter dial at 6 o’clock and blued steel hands. The movement has an extremely rare escapement which is combination of a slide lever escapement and a Massey escapement, the so called Pirouette Lever, a diamond end stone and an escapement wheel with 30 teeth.
Movement signed.
–
Diameter: 57,5 mm
–
Weight: 143 g
–
Signed: Fred. L. Favre, au Locle
–
Frédéric Louis Favre
The watch is by Frédéric-Louis Favre-Bulle (1770-1849), one of the most important chronometricists in the history of Swiss watchmaking and in particular that of Le Locle, a contemporary of Jacques-Frédéric Houriet (1743-1830) and Urban Jürgensen (1776 -1830).