346 - J. J. Badollet & Cie Genève - Tir Fédérale Genève 1887

J. J. Badollet & Cie Genève - Tir Fédérale Genève 1887 (*) An impressive Geneva shooting contest presentation watch "Tir Fédérale Genève 1887" Movm. No. 50896, Cal. LeCoultre, Case No. 11337, Dimensions 52 mm, circa 1887, Weight 114 g, Origin: Switzerland, Original box Case: Silver, featuring a motif of three shooters with crossbows, ornamented in high relief, on the reverse; case maker’s punch mark “FB” with a key (François Borgel); case band decorated with chased oak leaves and ribbons. Dial: Enamel. Movement: Bridge movement, lever escapement, screw-compensated balance. The 1887 Swiss Federal Shooting Festival in Geneva was the 32nd Swiss Federal Shooting Festival, a major national shooting competition held in the city. The figure of the archer has been immortalized on the cuvette in an ornate engraving that reads “Souvenir de Louis Olivier à Bellevue.” The Swiss Badollet family produced several generations of fine watchmakers from the 17th to the 20th century. One branch of the family worked in Paris from 1712 until 1872; there were also offices in England, and a watchmaker named Paul Badollet worked in New York around 1798. Jean Jaques Badollet (1756–1829) founded the company J. J. Badollet in 1779 in Geneva. Jean Moise Badollet (1811–1854) was the sole proprietor from 1828 to 1854 and operated under the name “J. M. Badollet”; from 1837, the company name was “J. M. Badollet & Cie.” This arrangement continued after Jean Moise’s death—his successor was Jean Marc Badollet. Around 1890, the company name reverted to the original “J. J. Badollet”; this was the period when the “Charmilles” pocket watch was produced based on Potter’s patents. However, the venture was unsuccessful, and the company was dissolved a year later, in 1896. A year after that, Colomb & Balmer took over the premises in Geneva, retaining the J. J. Badollet trademarks. It appears that around this time, the Badollet family became involved once again; Gustave Badollet (1855–1924) was the last member of the family to head the company. In 1923, its name was “Geneva Watch Co., Successor to J. J. Badollet, micrometers,” and this company was still in business two years later. Case: very good, slightly scuffed. Dial: very good. Movement: very good, in working order, cleaning recommended.