Swiss 18 carat gold lever watch with lid winding Circa 1880

Gold hunting cased pocket watch “Brevétes” by Benjamin Haas Jeune
–
A rare French/Swiss hunting cased pocket watch with lid winding “Demi Chronometre”, circa 1880.
Engine turned 18 carat gold à goutte case with engraved monogram and crown, and gold dome with engraving. Signed enamel dial with radial Roman hours, auxiliary seconds, gemstone-set and florally decorated hands. Bridge movement, rhodium-plated, “fausses côtes” decoration, gold screw compensation balance, blued balance spring, counterpoised lever.
–
Diameter: 50 mm
–
Weight: 118 g
–
Signed: Benjamin Haas Jeune
–
Haas & Cie. In 1848 the brothers Leopold (1827-1915) and Benjamin (1828-1925) Haas, both knights of the Légion d’honneur, founded the ANCIENNE MANUFACTURE DES MONTRES HAAS & CIE in Geneva. The company excelled in unique and exceptional pieces and achieved its reputation with exquisite watches that pass for modern even today. Rare treasures such as the split second chronograph and beautifully wrought pocket and wristwatches were created in accordance with the manufacturer’s fundamental motto of simplicity, technique and elegance. Benjamin Haas invented a form of winding where the mainspring was wound by opening the front cover of a hunting case watch. Patents, 1873, p. 48 illustrated and outlined British patent No. 3945, issued Dec. 2, 1873 to B. Haas. This patent was licensed to other makers. 1884 Haas changed their name to Haas Neveux & Cie, to communicate that new family members had taken positions in the company. At the same time the original logo of B.H. & Co. (for Benjamin Haas & Co) was changed to a small running hare and the letters HNC in an oval shape – representing the dynamic attitude of the company. In 1896 Haas Neveux & Cie establishes a record with an ultraflat 2mm movement for a ladies’ watch and wins a first price for precision in the 1902 competition of the famous “Observatoire de Genève”.