Rare Gold Pouzait Lever
£9,200.00
A rare late 18th Century Swiss Pouzait lever in a gold double sided case. Large full plate gilt keywind movement with resting barrel, decoratively engraved around the balance. Engraved sector shaped cock with delicate curved arms, polished steel endstone and regulator. Very large attractive diamond set balance, four spiral arms set with graduated diamonds. Rare pouzait lever escapement, the plate partly cutaway to reveal the tail of the lever. Lever pivots with polished steel endstones. Wound through the white enamel dial, seconds beating centre seconds, slender Roman numerals, engraved gilt edge. Decorative pierced gilt hands set by a square set in the centre of the foot to the cock. Gold open face case glazed on both sides to allow the balance to be observed. Gold bow and rectangular pendant with a button to open the sprung front bezel. Lateral steel stop lever at three o'clock acting directly on the balance
In excellent overall condition. Moise Pouzait developed his form of lever escapement in the 1780s and presented a model to the Geneva Societe des Arts in 1786. The use of a large balance allowed the seconds hand to move in one second increments. Together with the mesmerizing action of the balance Pouzait's invention was ideally suited for use in watches for the Chinese market although few survive. The introduction of the crab tooth duplex escapement, which also allowed the seconds hand to move in one second increments, may partly account for Pouzait's escapement not being widely used. A crab tooth duplex is considerably simpler and easier to mass produce. See Chamberlain's ?Its About Time" page 66 for a detailed drawing and explanation of the escapement.
Technical Specifications
- Reference Number
- A1313
- Circa
- 1790
- Anonymous
- Swiss
- Dimensions
- Diameter 59 mm
Related Masterpieces
Rare Gold Calendar Fob
£2,900.00
Pearl Set Gold and Enamel Verge
£4,200.00
Gold and Moss Agate Etui
£6,500.00