Golay Fils & Stahl Chronometer Watch
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1913
This Golay Fils & Stahl chronometer is a nickel-plated, keyless lever watch measuring 54 mm in diameter. Dating from circa 1913, the watch features a rhodium-plated calibre 20''' movement with 19 blue sapphire jewels.
It is equipped with a straight-line lever escapement and a Guillaume compensation balance, which includes gold temperature and meantime adjustment screws. The balance spring is of the blued steel Breguet type with a terminal curve. Winding is achieved through a wolf’s tooth mechanism, and the watch includes an index regulator. The piece is notable for its competitive history, having successfully undergone testing at the Observatoire de Genève for a first-class bulletin de marche in December 1913, followed by a Kew A certificate trial at the National Physical laboratory in Teddington in early 1914.
It is accompanied by these original documents.
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
- Chronometer
- Maker
- Golay Fils & Stahl
- Jewels
- 19 blue sapphire jewels
- Balance
- Guillaume compensation balance
- Diameter
- 54 mm
- Escapement
- Straight-line lever
- Provenance
- Tested at Geneva and Teddington observatories
- Serial Number
- 32090
- Place recorded
- Switzerland
- Maker / attribution
- Golay Fils & Stahl
Design
- Visible features
- • Wolf's tooth winding gears visible on the movement plate • Movement plate marked with 'GOLAY FILS & STAHL GENEVE' • Open case-back construction displaying the internal movement • Evidence of certificate documentation placed beneath the watch
- Case and Presentation
- The watch features a nickel-plated case with a diameter of 54 mm, which serves to house the 20''' movement. The case back bears the corresponding serial number 32090, matching the internal movement identifier. According to the auction house reporting, the condition of the case is categorized as good, though it exhibits slight surface scratching. The dial is also reported as being in good condition. The watch retains its original hands, completing the ensemble as documented in the provided registry information.
- Movement and Escapement
- The timepiece is powered by a rhodium-plated calibre 20''' movement, identified by serial number 32090. The construction centers on a straight-line lever escapement designed for chronometric precision. The watch uses 19 blue sapphire jewels to reduce friction within the gear train. A central feature of the balance assembly is the Guillaume compensation balance. This component is fitted with gold temperature and meantime adjustment screws to maintain accuracy across thermal variations. The regulation is further supported by a blued steel Breguet-style balance spring incorporating a terminal curve and an adjustable index regulator. Winding is facilitated by a wolf’s tooth winding mechanism, integrated into the gear train layout. The movement plate bears the signature of Golay Fils & Stahl, Geneve. The auction description notes that the movement is presently in need of a professional overhaul.
- Certification and Trials
- In December 1913, the watch was assessed by the Observatoire de Genève, where it earned a first-class bulletin de marche. Immediately following the Geneva evaluation, the timepiece was submitted to the National Physical laboratory in Teddington. There, it successfully completed the trials required to receive a Kew A certificate, dated 1 March 1914. These two certifications signify the watch's performance during these institutional endurance trials. The auction reporting confirms that the original documentation for both trials has been preserved and accompanies the watch.
Identification
- Serial number
- 32090
- 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: The auction house reports the watch is slightly scratched
- Research required: The movement currently requires an overhaul according to the auction description