Swiss gold five minute repeating pocket watch Circa 1910

Gold lever open faced watch
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A very fine and very rare Swiss, 18K gold  keyless, two train trip five minute repeating pocket watch by H.R. Ekegrén, Geneva, circa 1910. Made for J. E. Caldwell & Co. Philadelphia. A solid, polished, gold hinged cuvette with engine turned border. White enamel dial with Breguet numerals, outer minute track and subsidiary seconds, gold Breguet hands.

Nickel plated movement, two train with tandem winding, 35 jewels, straight line calibrated lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance with blued steel Breguet balance spring, swanneck micrometer regulator, repeating on gongs with independent train released by depressing the button on winding crown. Dial, case and movement signed.
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Diameter: 48 mm
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Signed: H.R. Ekegrén Geneva
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Double train trip repeaters became popular around 1900, especially in America. Not many were made due to their complication, and consequently their cost. Patek Philippe made a few for Tiffany, Ekegrén produced a few for Caldwell. Most were minute repeaters and a very few, as in the present watch, were five minute repeaters. Henri-Robert Ekegrén 1823-1896. Was the son of Daniel Ekegrén, of Swedish origin. Henri-Robert became skillful in watchmaking and engraving at an early age. After his apprenticeship he obtained a fellowship to travel to other watchmaking countries. At one point he worked for his fellow countryman, Jules Jürgensen, at Le Locle. In London, he worked for a well-known firm. In Paris, he worked for the celebrated Winnerl and became friendly with Adolph Lange. In 1847 he arrived in Geneva, where he worked with Henri Golay, an expert watch finisher, then with Golay-Leresche. In 1857 he formed a partnership with Ferdinand Westermann. Mr. Ekegrén took as his assistant the young Louis Chevalier, who was to remain with him for thirty-seven years. At the 1867 Exhibition he won a gold medal. Subsequent exhibitions – Vienna in 1873, Paris in 1875, Philadelphia in 1876, Paris in 1878, and Zurich in 1883 – brought him further honors and recognition. He constantly worked to improve each detail and to make a product of the highest merit. His watches are held in high esteem in Europe and America even to the present day.