Swiss 18K gold minute repeating chronograph Circa 1900

Gold repeating lever chronograph
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A fine and large 18 carat gold hunting cased minute repeating keyless pocket watch with chronograph attributed to Levrette Watch Co. in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, circa 1900. The numbered, polished case has a button at 2 o’clock for the start/stop and return to zero functions of the chronograph, and a hinged gold cuvette engraved with prize medals. The white enamel dial with Breguet hours, an outer minute track with fifth of a second divisions and Arabic five minute numerals, subsidiary seconds at 6 o’clock and blued steel spade hands. The frosted gilt movement has 15 jewels, a straight line lever escapement, monometallic balance, blued steel Breguet balance spring, centrifugal governor and an index regulator, repeating on gongs activated by a push button in the band.
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Diameter: 54 mm
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Signed: No name
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Levrette
Levrette was a mid priced watch brand registered in 1902 by the Braunschweig family of La Chaux-de-Fonds. It was taken over by Charles Wilhelm in 1932, who moved it upmarket, especially after World War II. The brand failed in the 1970s but was restarted in the 1990s by Franco Boiocchi as a mid priced line in his Paul Picot brand in Italy.