Paul Ditisheim Historical Republic of Neuchâtel 50th Anniversary Pocket Chronometer

Technical characteristics

Type

Pocket chronometer & deck watch

Maker

Paul Ditisheim, La Chaux-de-Fonds

Occasion

50th Anniversary of the Republic of Neuchâtel

Case Material

18K yellow gold and enamel

Enamel Artist

Johann Lanz

Place recorded

Switzerland

Chronometer Number

11098

Maker / attribution

Paul Ditisheim

Design

Visible features

• The 18K yellow gold case back features an en grisaille enamel scene depicting a man with a peg leg, holding a walking stick and paper scroll. • The enamel scene is set against a lakeside townscape with buildings and hills. • A decorative black enamel foliate border surrounds the scene, inscribed with 'LE CONSEIL D'ETAT AU MESSAGER BOITEUX 1898'. • A gold bow and grooved winding crown are positioned at the 12 o'clock pendant.

Dial and Cuvette Inscriptions

The cuvette is not visible in the primary supplied case-back photograph, but catalog notes record an inscription engraved in taille-douce reading 'No 11098 / Chronomètre à Ancre / Fabriqué par / Paul Ditisheim / à / La Chaux-de-Fonds / Offert à / Mr Ernest H. Bouvier / Le 28 Juillet 1898'. The source describes the dial as white enamel with suspended Breguet numerals, blued steel spade hands, subsidiary seconds at 6 o'clock, and the dedication '1898 / Souvenir / du / Cinquantenaire'.

Reported Movement and Presentation Box

The cataloguer describes the movement as an 18 1/2 ligne gilded brass caliber with going barrel, straight-line lever escapement, and a cut bimetallic compensated balance fitted with gold and platinum poising screws. It is reported to feature a blued steel hairspring with a Phillips terminal curve and a polished steel index regulator with swan-neck spring and micrometric screw. The source cautions that the movement ebauche is unverified by maker markings, stating it is 'probably by LeCoultre, Le Sentier, Vallée de Joux'. The lot was catalogued with an original fitted presentation box bearing the inscription 'Souvenir / du / Cinquantenaire de la République / 11 Juillet 1898 / Chronomètre No 11098 / Fabriqué par / Paul Ditisheim / à La Chaux-de-Fonds.'.

Historical Occasion and Enamel Case Decoration

The pocket chronometer is an 18K yellow gold open-face timepiece created to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Republic of Neuchâtel (1848–1898). According to auction documentation, it was presented in July 1898 by the State Council of the Canton of Neuchâtel to Ernest-Henri Bouvier, owner of the annual almanac Le Véritable Messager boiteux de Neuchâtel. The exterior case back features an en grisaille enamel painting on gold executed by Johann Lanz. Direct visual inspection shows a figure with a peg leg holding a walking stick and a paper scroll, positioned before a lakeside townscape. The auction text notes the backdrop depicts the lake and town of Neuchâtel, featuring the Protestant Collegiate Church of Notre-Dame of Neuchâtel and the Castle hill architectural ensemble. The composition is bordered in black enamel bearing the inscription 'LE CONSEIL D'ETAT AU MESSAGER BOITEUX 1898'.

Identification

Serial number

11098

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.