Le Phare Tir Cantonal du Centenaire Genève 1814-1914 niello silver quarter repeating pocket watch
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1914
This collectible Swiss pocket watch is a highly decorative quarter repeating timepiece produced for the 'Tir Cantonal du Centenaire Genève 1814-1914' shooting contest.
Manufactured by Le Phare in Le Locle, the company founded by Charles-Ami Barbezat-Baillot, this watch reflects the tradition of gifting high-quality horological pieces as tokens of honour at major shooting festivals. The watch features a niello silver case decorated with an intricate engraving of the Geneva Canton coat of arms, which includes an eagle, a key, and the Latin motto 'Post tenebras lux' (light after darkness).
The piece has an enamel dial and is powered by a 1/2 plate movement with a screw compensation balance. Measuring 54 mm in diameter and weighing 99 grams, this quarter repeater displays exceptional craftsmanship typical of the Le Phare manufacture, known for its expertise in repeating watches and complex horological complications. The design elements tie the piece directly to the commemorative 1914 centenary event in Geneva, serving as a functional prize for marksmen.
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.
Physical characteristics
- Weight
- 99 g
- Diameter
- 54 mm
- Material
- niello silver, enamel
Technical characteristics
- Balance
- screw compensation
- Movement
- 1/2 plate movement
- Complication
- quarter repeating
Design
- Obverse
- enamel dial
- Reverse
- engraved Geneva Canton coat of arms with eagle, key, and motto 'Post tenebras lux'
Identification
- Source note
- Described from a single auction-house listing published on Invaluable (reproduced with Invaluable's permission). Details apply to that one example; other examples of the type may differ, and the listing is supplementary evidence, not authentication.
- Maker named in listing
- Le Phare
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.