Swiss gold plated watch with Debaufré escapement Circa 1828

Open faced pocket watch by Du Bois & Fils
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A very fine Swiss gentleman’s pocket watch with very rare double wheel Debaufré escapement with pirouette, jumping center seconds, regulator dial, mock pendulum and original leather box, circa 1828.
Engine turned silver, gold plated, case with reeded band and case maker punch mark “JW”. Enamel dial with eccentric hour indication with Arabic numerals, centre seconds, aperture for mock pendulum and gold Breguet hands. Full plate movement, frosted, gilt, key wind, signed “JW London”, Debaufré escapement, three arm ring balance, engraved balance bridge.
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Diameter: 58 mm
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Weight: 132 g
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Signed: Du Bois & Fils
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Du Bois & Fils In 1785 Philippe Du Bois and his sons founded the “Du Bois & Fils 1785” watch company at the family seat in Le Locle. Du Bois had already established extensive business connections all over Europe and America as a cloth merchant, which made things much easier for the start up watch company. During the 19th century Du Bois & Fils opened branches in Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and the United States and business boomed. Due to its proximity to the trade fairs the German Frankfurt branch was particularly important.
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The Debaufré Escapement Invented by P. Debaufré in 1704, this escapement is distinguished by having two escape wheels which are mounted on the same arbour. The escape wheels are staggered. They interact with a semi-circular, wedge-shaped pallet on the balance staff which has chamfered edges. The wheels, which alternately rest on the flat underside or escape past it, impart the impulse to the balance. A very rare escapement combined with other interesting features. This watch is shown on pages 208 and 209 of the Camerer Cuss Book of Antique Watches. The book notes that the case is Swiss, the hallmarks having been applied when the watch was imported into England. The plate is engraved “I H London”, perhaps the importer. The Debaufré escapement is also known as a chaffcutter, Ormskirk or club footed verge. It was the first frictional rest escapement invented by Debaufré in 1704. Rarely used until it was taken up by Lancashire makers early in the 19th Century. The doubled wheeled variation is the first we have seen.