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Girard-Perregaux. A fine and rare 18K gold hunter case keyless pocket chronometer with one minute tourbillon made for the South American Market.
Cal. 19''' nickel-finished movement, 15 jewels, pivoted detent escapement, large bimetallic compensation balance, blued steel balance spring with overcoil, one minute tourbillon regulator with Ernest Guinand's first type polished steel three-arm carriage, screwed chatons.
Cuvette hand engraved with floral, scroll decorations and initials MJ to the front, silver dial, Roman numerals, outer and central raised yellow gold floral decoration, subsidiary seconds, guilloché case, ribbed band, inside covers with guilloché decoration. Signed Girard-Perregaux, Chaux-De-Fonds, Cronometro Tourbillon, case also signed R. Waldvogel and numbered 6'640. Case number: 80'648. With Neuchâtel Observatory bulletin and Girard-Perregaux fitted wooden presentation box.
External guilloché slightly worn out as commensurate with age. Oxidisation on the movement which can be improved with servicing.
According to the Archives of Girard-Perregaux, the present tourbillon chronometer was made in 1876 and awarded a third prize at the Neuchâtel Observatory contest of the same year. It had been prepared and adjusted by the precision adjuster J. Jacot. The present high precision watch is a fine example of one of Girard-Perregaux’s tourbillon chronometers, a specialty in which the manufacturer has been foremost since the introduction of their legendary three bridge tourbillon in 1867. Its tourbillon carriage was conceived by the celebrated watchmaker Ernest Guinand and finished by Girard-Perregaux’s highly skilled watchmakers in their workshops. Ernest Guinand (c1810-1879) was an important master watchmaker from Le Locle, who, together with the famous Auguste Grether, specialized in the production of tourbillon carriages.
Although his carriages were often not signed, they are easily identified by their distinctive A-shaped frames. They were mostly fitted with pivoted detent escapements, such as the present watch, some with lever escapements. Guinand supplied his tourbillons to renowned watchmakers including Girard-Perregaux and Montandon but was supposedly also commissioned by Patek Philippe with the design of their first tourbillon regulator in 1864.
The present watch is listed in Das Tourbillon by Reinhard, Meis, p. 347.
This watch will be fixed when purchased and delivered with 10 years warranty.