Pocket watch · Le Locle
Watch with two movements
VerifiedThe silver case has a fluted caseband and an engine-turned back. The white enamel dial has two hour chapter rings with Roman numerals, and a small seconds dial below. The upper part is decorated with an enamelled bouquet. Each key-wound movement has a barrel, a train, a long-fork right-angle lever escapement, and a three-armed balance with a flat balance spring.
Technical facts
- Inventory number
- MIH I-212
- Object type
- Pocket watch
- Place of production
- Le Locle
- Dating
- 1850 - 1870
- Materials and techniques (catalogue wording)
- argent, émail, laiton
- Dimensions (catalogue)
- dimensions min/max: 51 x 60 mm
- Inscriptions (catalogue)
- N° 201 (Fond du boîtier)
Historical significance
- The silver case has a fluted caseband and an engine-turned back. The white enamel dial has two hour chapter rings with Roman numerals, and a small seconds dial below. The upper part is decorated with an enamelled bouquet. Each key-wound movement has a barrel, a train, a long-fork right-angle lever escapement, and a three-armed balance with a flat balance spring.
- Attributed to Sylvain Mairet (1805-1890), this watch has the unusual feature of housing two distinct movements, each indicating the time on separate chapter rings. In vogue from the middle of the 19th century, watches with two dials were useful for travellers confronted with different times in every city they visited.
Photographs
Photographs are illustrative examples of the type, not necessarily the exact object described. Verify details against the source file page.
Sources & references
- Musée international d'horlogerie, online collection record, inv. I-212: https://collection.mih.ch/fr/collection/item/39006/
Where sources disagree, the disagreement is stated rather than resolved silently.