Manufacture
nitediver's sixth installment from the Musée International d'Horlogerie (MIH) in La Chaux-de-Fonds offers a captivating journey into the historical artistry of pocket watches. This segment focuses on exquisite 17th-century pieces, highlighting the intricate enamel work and early mechanical innovations that defined horology centuries ago, providing valuable context for understanding the evolution of watchmaking.
Musée int. d'horlogerie (MIH) La Chaux-de-Fonds. – Part 6
Lets see some very nice pocket watches now:
French "onion" pocket watches, 17th century.
Savonette with enamel painting on gold. Case in silver. Movement signed Jehan Augier, Paris. About 1600 -1620.
Savonette with Venus themed enamel painting on gold "Louis XIII". Movement with verge (or crown wheel) escapement without spiral. Sigend F. Baroneau, Paris. 1640.
Pocket watch with enamel painting on the backside showing the construction of the Babel tower. The movement features a fusée à chaine, and a "echappement a roué de recontre et d'un balancier annulaire sans spiral". (Sorry, could find the proper translation. I even couldn't figure what kind of escapement is described here….but as we cant see the movement at all, let us focus on the beauty of the enamel painting)
Signed Mattheus Wentzel Strasbourg. Around 1640.
Pocket watch with enamel painting on the backside featuring a scene from the bible: "Le voeu de Jephté". Movement signed T. Brow, around 1720
I find the true beauty of the enamel paintings striking. It would be interesting
Watch in the form of a tulip, with enamel painting showing the Jesus Christ and other religious motifs.
Quarter hour repeating watch with gold dial painted on enamel. Anonymous, Geneva, around 1800
Pendant with openwork and engraving with small enameled watch. Early 19th century.
Military counter cased in silver, giving the marching speed of the troupe (counting 60 to 130 beats per minute). Signed Breguet & Fils, sold 1822 to General Brosin for the Russian Emperor.
Movement "systeme Stayden" Subscription piece. Cylinder escapement with compensator balance wheel with three arms. Ref. 135, Breguet No. 3105.
Subscription Lepine pocket watch by Breguet. Silver case. Cylinder escapement, "parachute" and compensating index. Secrete Breguet signature under the "12". Ref. 357, Breguet No. 3492.
"Parachute": Old term denoting an endstone fixed to the end of a spring-blade on the balance-cock. This device was invented by A. L. Breguet, its object being to protect the balance-staff pivot from axial shocks. (from Illustrated Professional Dictionary of Horology)
Quarter hour repeating watch with engine-turned watch case. Benjamin Vulliamny, London, 1822.
Skeleton watch with engine turned watch case and quarter hour repeating mechanism.. S.F. Ravené, Berlin, early 19th century.
Quarter hour repeating watch with gold watch case featuring a fluted middle part. Louis Buezod, early 19th century.
Qaurter hour repeating watch and music on disc, J.C.Huguenin, La Chaux-de-Fonds, mid19th century.
Watch for wrist with tactile alarm. Mid 19th century.
Interesting pocketwatch. The soldier shows the time when pressing a button. I remember that Thomas Pretscher released wristwatches with a similar mechanism. Quite special indeed.
It is time for lunch now.
La Chaux-de-fonds presents itself in beautiful sunshine and we enjoy a nice lunch at the Restaurant du Theatre. We will be back after the lunch break…..
End of Part 6
Stay tuned…more to come during the course of the next few days…
Thanks so much for your comprehensive reports! I have enjoyed them. The watch in your post above labeled " Movement "systeme Stayden" Subscription piece. Cylinder escapement with compensator balance wheel with three arms. Ref. 135, Breguet No. 3105" brings to mind a visual of the Breguet La Tradition. Please know how appreciative I am of your efforts and pictures, even if I haven't responded to every part of the report! Cheers, Daos
..to see them with your own eyes one day, Daos. The museum is wonderful. .Yes, the Breguet La Tradition is showing strong links to the past, and i think many of us are very much fond of the Tradition. Thanks for your comments and observations! Stefan
There is so much to discover on the dial side. I could loupe it for hours! Cheers, Daos
...but the pocket watches sit immobilized in the showcases. I am not sure, but with some early "warning", maybe a guided tour could be organized that would allow to take some of these precious pieces out of their showcase and even hear them striking? Just an idea, or maybe a dream? However, at the time of our visit, there was a specical exhibition about automata being displayed and many of those have been operated by the museum staff. Fascinating. Unfortunately, i didnt take any movies.... Best,
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