106 - Gilbert Leuenberger - Technicum du Locle

Gilbert Leuenberger - Technicum du Locle (*) A fine Swiss pocket watch—a graduate’s project—manufactured at the École d’Horlogerie du Locle Movement No. 1759, Cal. LeCoultre 20 RV, Case No. 1759, Dimensions 51 mm, circa 1927, Weight 107 g, Origin: Switzerland Case: Niello silver, Huguenin Frères, intricate spider web decoration with a spider. Dial: Enamel. Movement: Bridge movement, lever escapement, screw-compensated balance. The Technicum du Locle (also known as Technicum Le Locle) was a historically significant watchmaking and technical school in the Swiss town of Le Locle (Canton of Neuchâtel), which was originally founded in the 19th century as a watchmaking school (École d’Horlogerie). The term is now mainly used in connection with rare, highly complex “school watches” (Montres École). The school’s roots date back to the 1830s, when it was established to train the next generation for the flourishing Swiss precision watch industry in the Jura region. At the turn of the century (1901), the institution moved to new premises on Rue du Technicum—named after it—and established itself as an expanded technical education center under the name Technicum. Case: very good. Dial: very good. Movement: very good, capable of running; cleaning recommended.