Swiss 18K rose gold lever made for the Chinese market Circa 1790

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Kenmerk: CH1920
Diameter: 57 mm

Estimate: € 3.500 - 6.000
Price sold: € 3.500

Rose gold lever with stoppable jump center seconds
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A highly attractive and technically interesting Swiss 18 carat rose gold open faced lever pocket watch with stoppable jumping center seconds made for the Chinese market, circa 1790. Movement with a lever escapement by Moise Pouzait, key wound, a second beating balance and the center seconds hand can be stopped or activated by a lever in the band. White enamel dial with Roman hours, outer minute divisions, Arabic quarter hour numerals and decorative hands. A plain case. Dial and movement signed, case numbered.
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Diameter: 56.5 mm
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Signed: Fs & Ge Achard à Genève
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The balance has a seconds beating action to allow the center seconds hand to advance in one second increments, the escapement is ultimately derived from that invented by Moise Pouzait in the late 18th century.
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Frères Achard, the makers of this watch, were evidently familiar with Moise Pouzait’s lever escapement which he developed in the 1780s. In 1786, Pouzait made a model of his escapement which he presented to the Geneva Societe des Arts. Due to its highly visible and mesmerizing action, Pouzait’s invention was much appreciated by the Chinese before Jacot invented the Chinese duplex escapement which made the production of center seconds watches feasible in larger numbers.

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The brothers François and Georges Achard were master watchmakers in Geneva, working together until 1796. They were recorded for having made gold and enamel watches with automata and quarter repeating.

Signed: Fs & Ge Achard à Genève