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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Minute repeating pocket watch

Paul Ditisheim Minute Repeater

Partially verified

This Paul Ditisheim minute-repeater is a keyless hunting-cased dress watch, identified by serial number 28348 and manufactured in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, circa 1910. The watch features an 18K gold four-body 'bassine' case with a polished finish and a concealed hinge on the back cover, complemented by a hinged gold cuvette. The matte gilt dial displays champlevé Breguet numerals, an engine-turned center, and an outer minute track, with time indicated by blued steel Breguet hands. The movement is a 17-ligne, rhodium-plated caliber with 31 jewels, featuring a straight-line lever escapement, a cut bimetallic compensation balance, a blued steel Breguet balance spring, and a swan-neck micrometer regulator. The minute-repeating mechanism is activated by a slide on the band. The movement plate bears the inscription 'Grand Prix, Paris 1900'.

The watch depicted with the case open to reveal the movement and the dial with its engine-turned center.
The watch depicted with the case open to reveal the movement and the dial with its engine-turned center. — Antiquorum. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
catalog.antiquorum.swiss
Category
Pocket watch · Minute repeating pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Paul Ditisheim
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
177-73
Source-reported date
circa 1910
Source-reported place
Switzerland
Source-reported serial
28348

Source-reported attribution and specifications are not independent authentication. A listing does not establish present ownership, current display, availability or permission to reproduce.

Object description

Case and Dial

The watch is housed in an 18K gold four-body 'bassine' case, which is finished with a polished exterior. The back cover of the case incorporates a concealed hinge, and a hinged gold cuvette protects the internal movement.

The matte gilt dial is designed with champlevé Breguet numerals and an outer minute track. The central portion of the dial is engine-turned, and the time is displayed via blued steel Breguet hands. A subsidiary seconds dial is located at the six o'clock position.

Evidence for this section
  • “Four-body, ?bassine?, polished, the back cover with concealed hinge”
  • “Hinged gold cuvette”
  • “Matte gilt, champlevé Breguet numerals, outer minute track, subsidiary seconds, engine-turned center”

Movement and Mechanism

The movement is a rhodium-plated 17-ligne caliber, containing 31 jewels. It utilizes a straight-line lever escapement paired with a cut bimetallic compensation balance and a blued steel Breguet balance spring. Precision adjustments are managed by a swan-neck micrometer regulator.

The watch includes a minute-repeating function, which is operated by a slide mechanism mounted on the band of the case. The main plate of the movement is inscribed with 'Grand Prix, Paris 1900',

Evidence for this section
  • “17???, rhodium-plated, inscribed ?Grand Prix, Paris 1900?, 31 jewels”
  • “straight-line lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance”
  • “repeating on gongs activated by a slide on the band”

Condition and Marks

The auction description reports the condition of the watch using a grading scale, assigning an 'AA' grade overall. The case is evaluated as grade 3, while the movement is assigned a grade 3*.

The dial condition is described with the code 3-9-01, with a specific note that the dial is scratched. The hands are identified as original to the watch.

Evidence for this section
  • “Grading System Grade: AA Very good”
  • “Case: 3 Good”
  • “Movement: 3* Good”
  • “Dial: 3-9-01 Good Scratched”

Open research questions

  • What is the specific technical relationship between this 17-ligne caliber and the 1900 Paris Grand Prix award cited on the plate?
  • Does the serial number 28348 align with known production records for Paul Ditisheim repeaters from this period?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Paul Ditisheim Minute Repeater
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MakerPaul Ditisheim“Paul Ditisheim, La Chaux de Fonds”
Serial Number28348“No. 28348”
Datecirca 1910“Made circa 1910”
Case Material18K gold“18K gold keyless dress watch”
Movement Jewels31“31 jewels”
Repeating TypeMinute-repeating“minute-repeating”
Case TypeHunting-cased“hunting-cased”

Visible details

  • Blued steel Breguet hands are visible on the dial.
  • The movement plate is signed with the Grand Prix, Paris 1900 award.
  • The dial features a central engine-turned guilloche pattern.
  • A minute-repeating slide is positioned on the case band.

Research qualifications

  • The exact extent of the reported dial scratches is not detailed beyond the grading code.
  • The functionality of the repeating mechanism remains unverified despite the auction house grading.

Photograph identity and source facts were screened before import; rights clearance remains pending.

Consulted source

'Thin Minute Repeater' Paul Ditisheim, La Chaux de Fonds, No. 28348. Made circa 1910. Very fine, thin and elegant, minute-repeating, hunting-cased, 18K gold keyless dress watch.

Reviewed 2026-10-26 · Record 7481007896

Terms in this record

Glossary explanations for terms named in this object’s record.

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