Albert Pellaton-Favre Attributed 18K Yellow Gold Pocket Chronometer with One-Minute Tourbillon Regulator

Technical characteristics

Type

Tourbillon pocket chronometer

Diameter

56.3 mm

Escapement

Spring detent escapement

Case Number

1 901

Case Material

18K yellow gold

Place recorded

Switzerland

Movement Number

14 539

Maker / attribution

Albert Pellaton-Favre

Design

Visible features

• Open yellow-gold hunting case revealing a white enamel dial with black Roman hour numerals. • Crucifix-style hour and minute hands embellished with small set stones. • Subsidiary seconds dial positioned above the 6 o'clock mark with Arabic numerals. • Fluted winding crown with an oval bow positioned at 3 o'clock relative to the dial orientation.

Identity and Attribution

The timepiece is catalogued under the brand entry as 'Unsigned, attributable to Albert Pellaton-Favre, Le Locle' with an estimated date of circa 1900. Physical signatures are not documented on the watch, making the attribution reliant on stylistic movement features and owner history. According to consignor notes reported in the auction catalogue, the watch was 'the personal watch of the tourbillon maker Albert Pellaton-Favre (1832-1914)' and conceals inside the cover a tintype photographic portrait identified as his wife, Louise-Joséphine Favre-Bulle (1837-1900). This interior photograph is not visible in the primary dial observation.

Case and Dial Architecture

The pocket chronometer is built with an 18K yellow gold hunting case measuring 56.3 mm in diameter and catalogued with polished cover and case-back surfaces under Case No. 1 901. Direct observation shows a fluted winding crown and an oval bow positioned at 3 o'clock relative to the dial arrangement. The white enamel dial displays radial Roman numerals, an outer minutes ring, and a subsidiary seconds dial situated at 6 o'clock. Hands are observed in a crucifix form with small set stones, matching the catalogued description of 'diamond-set gold “crucifix”-type hands.'

Reported Movement Construction

The movement mechanism is not exposed in the provided dial view. The catalogue lists it as a rhodium-plated Pellaton-type calibre measuring 19 1/2 lignes (also noted as 19''' in the narrative text) and marked 'Movement No. No. 14 539 (“32790” engraved with an etching needle)'. It is described as having a curved centre bridge, going barrel, gold wheel train, and a screwed gold chaton on the central wheel. The regulating organ is reported as a one-minute tourbillon regulator fitted with a three-arm equidistant Pellaton carriage and an Earnshaw-type spring detent escapement. Additional reported components include a cut bimetallic compensated balance with gold poising screws, a blued steel hairspring with a Phillips terminal curve, an amplitude control device, a gold screwed chaton end-stone, and a polished steel index-regulator with a gold scale plate.

Identification

Serial number

14 539

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.