James C. Pellaton One-Minute Tourbillon Pocket Chronometer
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1933
This 18K gold keyless pocket chronometer, identified by serial number 1963, was crafted by James C. Pellaton in Le Locle. The watch features a one-minute tourbillon regulator, which was adjusted by Jeanmairet, and incorporates a Guillaume balance.
The timepiece is housed in a "demi-bassine" three-body case, glazed on both sides, with a band featuring engraved laurel leaf decoration. The white enamel dial is accented by black steel Breguet hands, Arabic numerals, and a subsidiary seconds display. The movement is a 19 3/4 ligne Le Locle Technicum caliber, characterized by rhodium plating, fausses cotes decoration, and a three-arm equidistant Pellaton carriage. The chronometer includes a blued steel balance spring with a Phillips outer terminal curve and a micrometric screw adjustment for the regulator pins.
This specific watch, which retains its original leather fitted box, is documented in Reinhard Meis's publication, "Le Tourbillon".
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
- 1933
- Type
- Tourbillon pocket watch
- Maker
- James C. Pellaton
- Literature
- Le Tourbillon, Reinhard Meis
- Balance Type
- Guillaume balance
- Case Material
- 18K gold
- Serial Number
- 1963
- Place recorded
- Switzerland
- Movement Caliber
- Le Locle Technicum
- Maker / attribution
- James C. Pellaton
Design
- Case and Dial
- The watch is housed in an 18K gold three-body case featuring a 'demi-bassine' profile. The construction is notable for being glazed on both sides, which allows for visual access to both the dial and the movement. The band of the case is decorated with a continuous laurel leaf pattern that has been chased and engraved, while the bezels remain polished. The dial is constructed of white enamel and displays Breguet numerals paired with an outer minute track and a subsidiary seconds dial at the base. The time is indicated by black steel Breguet hands, which contrast against the white enamel surface. The overall design prioritizes legibility and formal clarity consistent with chronometric standards of the era.
- Visible features
- • Glazed case-back revealing the tourbillon movement • Breguet-style numerals on the white enamel dial • Engraved laurel leaf pattern on the case band • Original leather fitted box with descriptive interior lettering
- Movement and Escapement
- The movement is a 19 3/4 ligne Le Locle Technicum caliber finished with rhodium plating and a fausses cotes decoration characterized by narrow stripes. It features a three-arm equidistant Pellaton carriage, designed as a one-minute tourbillon. The escapement is a lateral Swiss calibrated lever type. The regulation system includes a cut anibal-brass Guillaume balance paired with a blued steel balance spring that utilizes a Phillips outer terminal curve. The index regulator features a gold scale plate and the pins are managed via a micrometric screw adjustment. The movement is jeweled to the center to reduce friction in the gear train.
- Provenance and Documentation
- The watch is identified by its performance at the Neuchâtel Observatory, having been awarded a Premier Prix in 1933. James C. Pellaton is recognized in the provided literature as an authority on tourbillon production during the 1920s and 1930s. He later became the director of the Le Locle Technicum and received an honorary degree in 1943. This specific timepiece is officially documented in the book 'Le Tourbillon' by Reinhard Meis, published in 1990. The set is accompanied by its original leather fitted box, which contains printed information confirming the prize-winning history of the piece.
Identification
- Serial number
- 1963
- 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 attribution to Jeanmairet for adjustment is reported by the auction description
- Research required: The specific grade of condition relies solely on the provided auction grading system