Marius Lecoultre 'Boule de Genève' chatelaine watch, 1889
Record status
Individual type · research required
Period
1889
Maker / issuer
LeCoultreA Swiss "Boule de Genève" (Geneva ball) chatelaine or pendant watch made of red guilloché enamel set with diamonds and sapphires. Geneva balls were pendant watches primarily intended for women, frequently accompanied by a matching brooch, chain, or chatelaine.
The timepiece utilizes a winding system developed by Marius Lecoultre of Geneva (Swiss patent 114, granted 12 January 1889). Winding is achieved by rotating the hemisphere that houses the dial, while time-setting is performed by pressing a cylindrical button while rotating that same hemisphere.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 2
- Photograph views
- 2
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Historical context
This timepiece was produced in 1889, incorporating a winding system developed by Marius Lecoultre of Geneva. His innovation was registered under Swiss patent 114, which was granted on 12 January 1889.
The watch exemplifies the Boule de Genève, or Geneva ball, a spherical pendant watch design originating from Geneva, Switzerland. These pieces served as accessories primarily intended for women, frequently accompanied by a matching brooch, chain, or chatelaine. Rather than employing a conventional crown, this example utilises Lecoultre's patented mechanism: winding is executed by turning the hemisphere containing the dial, whilst time-setting requires depressing a cylindrical button while rotating that same hemisphere.
Physical characteristics
- Case
- Chatelaine watch / 'Boule de Genève' ball form, red guilloché enamel decorated with diamonds and sapphires
Technical characteristics
- Movement
- Wound by rotating the hemisphere containing the dial; setting operated by depressing a cylindrical button while rotating the hemisphere (Swiss patent 114 by Marius Lecoultre, 12 January 1889)
Design
- Case type
- Chatelaine watch
- Case decoration
- Enamel, Guilloché
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
- Escapement type not documented; requires movement examination or a horological reference.
- Jewel count and calibre not documented.
- Serial-number dating, case dimensions and weight remain untranscribed.
- No catalogue reference number is asserted; standard horological catalogues have not been transcribed for this specimen.