Albert H. Potter & Co. 18K Gold Hunting-Cased Pocket Chronometer
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1877
This 18K gold, hunting-cased, keyless pocket chronometer, identified as No. 41, is attributed to Albert H. Potter & Co. of Geneva, circa 1877. The watch features a bassine-style case with an engine-turned exterior and a central monogram.
Internally, it is distinguished by a 44 mm (19 1/2''') nickel movement featuring fausses côtes decoration and a patented split-plate kidney caliber. The movement operates with a going barrel and a straight-line calibrated lever escapement, utilizing a cut bimetallic compensation balance with platinum and gold adjustment screws. The white enamel dial provides radial Roman numerals and subsidiary seconds, complemented by blued steel Breguet hands.
A notable construction element is the gold glazed cuvette, which allows observation of the movement.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Date
- circa 1877
- Type
- Hunting-cased pocket chronometer
- Maker
- Albert H. Potter & Co.
- Jewels
- 21
- Condition
- Overhaul recommended
- Case Style
- Bassine
- Case Material
- 18K gold
- Serial Number
- 41
- Place recorded
- Switzerland
- Movement Diameter
- 44 mm (19 1/2''')
- Maker / attribution
- Albert H. Potter & Co.
Design
- Visible features
- • Case features engine-turned cover with central monogram • White enamel dial with radial Roman numerals • Movement displays fausses côtes decoration on plates • Glazed gold cuvette exposes movement
- Movement and Escapement
- The movement measures 19 1/2''' (44 mm) and is constructed from nickel with fausses côtes decoration applied to both the front and back plates. It utilizes a patented split-plate kidney caliber, which facilitates the setting of the gear train. The mechanism uses a going barrel and a straight-line calibrated lever escapement. The regulation of the balance is achieved via a cut bimetallic compensation balance, which is fitted with gold temperature-adjusting screws and platinum quarter screws. The watch includes a blued steel Breguet balance spring and contains 21 jewels. The winding and setting mechanism includes an intermediate wheel that moves vertically to engage with the train. Furthermore, the click pin, located by the barrel, is designed to allow the release of the mainspring tension.
- Case and Dial Construction
- The watch is housed in an 18K gold bassine-style hunting case. The exterior of the front cover exhibits engine-turned surface work and includes a small central monogram. The case design incorporates a polished band and a glazed gold cuvette, allowing for the inspection of the movement without removal. Inside the back cover, the watch contains a photographic portrait of a woman and a baby. The dial is finished in white enamel and follows a traditional layout, featuring black radial Roman numerals for the hour markers and an outer minute track. The time is displayed via blued steel Breguet-style hands, and a subsidiary seconds dial is sunk into the lower portion of the enamel face. The dial is signed by the maker.
- Signatures and Technical Notes
- The timepiece is signed on both the dial and the movement. The auction house has provided a technical assessment, noting that the plate design was patented on April 5, 1887, and describing the movement as a unique iteration of the maker's approach to watch construction, despite the winding mechanism itself lacking a formal patent. According to the auction house report, the overall condition of the watch is graded as very good, with the movement and dial assigned specific condition ratings.
Identification
- Serial number
- 41
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: Patented movement caliber date conflicts with 1877 production date
- Research required: Auction description recommends overhaul