102nd Auction

2020/6/29

Lot 334

H. L. Matile, Locle, Movement No. 10049, Case No. 109443, 54 mm, 136 g, circa 1895
A precision hunting case pocket watch of historical interest, with pivoted detent chronometer escapement of the United States Army Signal Corps
Case: 14k rose gold, monogrammed, case maker's punch mark "DDDD" (Dubois Watch Case Co.). Dial: enamel. Movm.: bridge movement, large gold screw compensation balance.
The back of this watch is decorated with insignia and motto of the United States Army Signal Corps in coloured enamel: "Pro Patria Vigilans" (Watchful for the Country). The USASC was established in 1860 – it is a division of the Department of the Army and manages communications for the armed forces. The branch insignia shows two signal flags crossed and – since 1884 – a flaming torch.
Henri Louis Matile of LeLocle was born in 1817. He produced high quality watches for the American market and had several representatives in the United States. He also exhibited at the Philadelphia fair in 1876. This timepiece is one of those where the movement was fitted into the case stateside by the American Dubois Watch Case Co., based in Brooklyn, New York since 1892.

Sold

estimated
2.5005.000 €
Price realized
4.000 €