Fabrique Germinal Minute-Repeating Chronograph with Calendar
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1900
This large, 18K yellow gold hunting-cased pocket watch was produced by Fabrique Germinal (Picard & Cie) in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, circa 1900. The timepiece is keyless and features a complex movement equipped with a minute repeater, an olive-button chronograph, a triple-date calendar, and a moon-phase complication.
The case is constructed in a four-body 'bassine et filets' style with a polished finish, incorporating a hinged gold cuvette and an additional glazed cover to display the movement. The dial is made of white enamel and displays Arabic numerals, with four subsidiary dials indicating the month, day of the week, date, and a moon-phase aperture with a lunar calendar. The movement is a 22-ligne, frosted gilt caliber featuring 19 jewels, a straight-line lever escapement, and a notched bimetallic compensation balance with a Breguet balance spring.
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
- Type
- Minute repeating pocket watch
- Maker
- Fabrique Germinal (Picard & Cie)
- Diameter
- 61 mm
- Case Type
- Four-body, 'bassine et filets'
- Jewel Count
- 19
- Case Material
- 18K yellow gold
- Movement Type
- Frosted gilt
- Serial Number
- 201054
- Place recorded
- Switzerland
- Movement Caliber
- 22'''
- Maker / attribution
- Fabrique Germinal (Picard & Cie)
Design
- Case and Dial
- The watch is housed in a four-body, polished 18K yellow gold case, characterized by a 'bassine et filets' design. Access to the internal components is provided through a hinged gold cuvette and an additional gold-rimmed, glazed cover that permits a view of the movement. The dial is executed in white enamel and features Arabic numerals. Timekeeping is tracked via a central minute track and an outermost 1/5th seconds division for the chronograph. Four recessed subsidiary dials handle the calendar functions, displaying the days of the month, the days of the week, and the months, while a moon-phase aperture includes a lunar calendar on its periphery. Gilt poire hands indicate the time.
- Visible features
- • Large 61 mm case diameter • White enamel dial with Arabic numerals • Four subsidiary recessed calendar dials • Olive-shaped chronograph button
- Movement and Escapement
- The movement is a 22-ligne caliber with a frosted gilt finish, containing 19 jewels. It operates using a straight-line lever escapement paired with a notched bimetallic compensation balance, which is regulated by a Breguet balance spring and an index regulator. The watch includes a minute-repeater mechanism that strikes on gongs activated by a slide positioned on the case band. A centrifugal governor controls the timing of the repeater strike. The chronograph is operated via an olive-shaped button located on the case.
- Condition and Attribution
- The object is attributed to Fabrique Germinal (Picard & Cie) of La Chaux-de-Fonds, dating to approximately 1900. The movement is signed and numbered on the cuvette. The auction house grades the condition of the case, movement, and dial as good, though the dial is noted to have hairlines.
Identification
- Serial number
- 201054
- 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: Condition report mentions hairlines on the enamel dial
- Research required: Auction description suggests an overhaul is recommended