185 - Alexander Hüning - Chronomètre de Bord

Alexander Hüning - Chronomètre de Bord (*) A large Geneva deck watch "Chronomètre de Bord" Movm. No. 34628, Cal. PD 47.5 mm, Case No. 34628, Dimensions 60 mm, circa 1920, Weight 182 g, Origin: Switzerland Case: Silver, smooth, stamped “F&H” within a shield (A. Hüning). Dial: Enamel. Movement: 3/4-plate movement, lever escapement, large Guillaume screw-compensated balance. This precision watch corresponds in every respect to an observatory watch by Paul Ditisheim. The movement is constructed and finished in exactly the same way as P. Ditisheim’s Type II movement. The case, too, is familiar to us from P. Ditisheim’s workshop. Most Type II watches bear numbers in the 36xxx range. Judging by the silver hallmarks on the case, this fine piece was intended for export to Germany. Alexander Hüning (1855–1931) was most likely a native of Germany who moved to Geneva around 1880 after completing his apprenticeship; he became a citizen of Geneva in 1898. In 1893, Hüning and Emile Fiebiger jointly founded the company Fiebiger & Hüning at 13 Rue de Lévrier in Geneva, which Hüning continued to run on his own after Fiebiger’s death. He was particularly known for his exquisite, complicated pocket watches of the highest quality. An overview of Hüning’s life and work can be found in Klaus Pöhlmann’s “Alexander Hüning, ein deutscher Uhrmacher in der Schweiz” (A German Watchmaker in Switzerland), Klassik Uhren 1/2010, p. 24 ff. Case: very good. Dial: very good. Movement: very good, capable of running, cleaning recommended.