91st Auction

2015/5/16

Lot 595

Robert & Courvoisier, Genève, Movement No. 81497, Case No. 823, 57 mm, 121 g, circa 1795
A gentleman's fine pocket watch with an oversized balance and lever escapement according to Pouzait
Case: 18k gold, glazed on reverse side, case maker's punch mark "PHMI". Dial: enamel, Breguet numerals, centre seconds, signed, blued Breguet hands. Movm.: full plate movement, keywind, frosted, gilt, florally engraved rim, signed, chain/fusee, large finely engraved balance cock, oversized five-arm gold ring balance.
Robert & Courvoisier
The firm traces back to the company Josue Robert which was founded in 1770; the founder worked in the business with his sons, his grandson and his son-in-law Louis Courvoisier until his death a year later. In 1781 the company was renamed to "Josue Robert & Fils" and Louis Courvoisier had a share in it; he was manager of the pocket watch division. The officers’ pocket watches by Robert & Courvoisier had an excellent reputation around the beginning of the 19th century and were often marked with traders’ signatures such as those of a number of watch dealers from Vienna.
Jean-Moïse Pouzait (1743-1793)
He was born in Geneva. He was the head of the first school of Horology in Geneva and invented the independent dead seconds watch in 1776. In 1786 he improved the anchor escapement.
Source: G.H. Baillie "Watchmakers and Clockmakers of the World", 2nd edition, Edinburgh/London 1947, p. 257.

Sold

estimated
7.5009.000 €
Price realized
9.800 €