Gold Chronometer no. 4903

Case: Yellow gold, hinged gold cuvette signed "Niton SA, No 4903, Premier des Chronometres, Eschappement Ancre Suisse au Concours Observatoire de Geneve 1928, Switzerland" Dial: White enamel, arabic numerals, blued steel Breguet hands, subsidiary seconds dial, unsigned. Movement: Gilt 19''', bi-metallic Guillaume-Invar balance with blued steel balance spring with Breguet overcoil with polished steel kidney piece, 21 jewels, 8 adj, Geneva seal, numbered on main plate. Provenance: 1926 - Niton, Geneve 1928 - Observatoire de Geneve, second prize and fifth overall with 752 points, regulated by Henri Wehrli. 1938 - Sold 9 Sep 1938 to Mr Brunet for 800 CHF 2009 - Patrizzi & Co., 25 Oct 2009 est 3-5,000chf "Niton , Genève, 30 Rue du Stand , no. 4903, made circa 1926, sold september 9, 1938 to Mr. brunet for 800 CHF. Extremely fine, 18K yellow gold, keyless pocket chronometer, winner of the First Prize at the 1928 Geneva Observatory Timing Contest, in original fitted box with original bill of sale Niton was very capable watchmaker, making mostly ebauches for other companies, including Patek Philippe. We have seen a few very unusual Patek Philippe watches with Niton’s movements. In 1924 the company advertized for men’s thin and ultra-thin watches, form watches, jewelry watches, and artistic and high precision horology. The last listing appears to have been in 1966. PUBLISHED IN: Geneva Observatory Bulletin, 1928 FUNCTIONS: Hours, minutes, small seconds SIGNED: Case, movement DIMENSIONS: 49 mm Ø CASE: Four-part, bassine, all hinged, gold hinged cuvette DIAL: White enamel, Arabic hours, outer minutes track, sunk subsidiary seconds Hands : Blued steel Breguet Movement: 41.5 mm, frosted gilt, 21 jewels, punched with Seal of Geneva quality mark, straight-line counterpoised lever escapement, cut-bimetallic compensation balance with gold temperature and mean-time adjustment screws, eight adjustments, blued steel Breguet balance spring, wolf-tooth winding wheels ACCESSORIES: Original fitted box, original bill of sale Condition CASE: Very good DIAL: Very good, minuscule hairlines at 7 HANDS: Very good MOVEMENT: Very good" Concours A/ pieces isolee, Chronomètres de poche 1927-1928 18,5’’’ 2 x Poincon de Geneve, 18k yellow gold, 752 points, place 5, Observatory timing Contest 1928 (2nd price)