Louis Rosselet Hunting-Cased Chronograph
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1880
This Swiss-made 18K gold hunting-cased keyless chronograph watch, attributed to enameller Louis Rosselet of Geneva, dates to approximately 1880. Designed for the Indian market, the watch features a white enamel dial with Roman numerals, a 30-minute register at 3 o'clock, and a subsidiary seconds dial at 9 o'clock.
The gold spade hands indicate the time, while an outer track is divided into fifths for chronograph measurements. The case is decorated with painted enamel scenes featuring Windsor Castle, including a peacock by a lake on the back and a portrait of Queen Victoria on the front. Both the bezels and the bow are set with pearls. The movement is a 42 mm frosted gilt 3/4-plate design in the English style, housing 15 jewels, a lateral counterpoised lever escapement, and a cut-bimetallic compensation balance equipped 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
- Date
- circa 1880
- Type
- Chronograph pocket watch
- Maker
- Louis Rosselet
- Market
- Indian market
- Diameter
- 52 mm
- Dial Details
- White enamel
- Case Material
- 18K Gold
- Movement Type
- 3/4-plate in English style
- Place recorded
- Switzerland
- Maker / attribution
- Louis Rosselet
Design
- Visible features
- • The case back displays a painted enamel peacock and a landscape scene. • The exterior of the watch case, including the bezels and bow, is adorned with inset pearls. • The dial includes a 30-minute register and a subsidiary seconds dial. • The watch features a crown-wound keyless mechanism.
- Movement and Escapement
- The internal mechanism is a 42 mm movement constructed as a frosted gilt 3/4-plate, which follows an English stylistic tradition. The movement utilizes 15 jewels to reduce friction in the gear train. Precision is maintained through a lateral counterpoised lever escapement paired with a cut-bimetallic compensation balance, which is designed to regulate the effects of temperature changes on timekeeping performance. The balance wheel is coupled with a Breguet balance spring to facilitate consistent oscillations.
- Enamelled Case and Exterior
- The watch is housed in a five-body 18K gold hunting case. The exterior surfaces are finished with detailed painted enamel scenes set against a blue background. The case back features a depiction of a peacock positioned by a lake, with the silhouette of Windsor Castle visible in the distance. The front cover displays a portrait of Queen Victoria, also accompanied by a view of Windsor Castle in the background. The decorative scheme is complemented by the application of pearls, which are set into the bezels and the bow of the watch.
- Dial and Chronograph Configuration
- The watch features a white enamel dial configured for a chronograph function. The primary timekeeping is indicated by radial Roman numerals and gold spade hands. Minute divisions are marked around the outer edge, while a specialized chronograph track, divided into fifths, surrounds the perimeter to facilitate precise measurement of elapsed time. Functionality is provided by two auxiliary dials: a 30-minute register positioned at 3 o'clock and a subsidiary seconds dial located at 9 o'clock. This layout allows the user to track seconds and larger intervals through the keyless winding and operation system integrated into the case structure.
Identification
- 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 enamel work is attributed to Louis Rosselet rather than definitively signed.
- Research required: The connection to the Indian market is provided by the auction house without further documentation.