370 - Hermann Bovet à Bienne - Experimental Chronograph Brevet No. 1527

Hermann Bovet à Bienne - Experimental Chronograph Brevet No. 1527 (*) An extremely rare pocket watch with chronograph, 60 minutes and 24h counter "Montre à double chronographe" according to the patent of Hermann Bovet à Bienne Case No. 40959, Dimensions 54 mm, circa 1890, Weight 117 g, Origin Schweiz Case: Silver, guilloché pattern, florally engraved, pusher for chronograph at "9". Dial: Enamel, auxiliary seconds with additional chronograph hand. Movm.: 1/2 plate movement, engravings "D.R.P. Ang.", Patent Appl. For" and "Breveté S.G.D.G.", screw compensation balance. Hermann Oskar Bovet, usually known simply as Hermann, was born in Biel in 1848. In 1888, he took over the firm F. Bovet & Cie. at 13 Zentralstraße in Biel. The company specialised in the manufacture of chronographs and stopwatches and was granted various patents in 1888. In October 1889, Hermann Bovet was granted a further Swiss patent, No. 1527, for a "Montre à double chronographe". In addition to the watch factory, Hermann Bovet also owned a timber-splitting plant and a sawmill in Biel, where a serious accident occurred on 18 May 1887. Hermann Oskar Bovet died unexpectedly and without issue at the age of just 42 on 6 May 1891 in Biel. The business was wound up by auction on 28 September 1891; even Hermann Bovet’s private estate was put up for sale. Source: watch-wiki.org. Case: very good. Dial: very good. Movm.: very good, capable of running, cleaning recommended.