106th Auction

2022/5/21

Lot 187

Paul Ditisheim

A rare Swiss ship's chronometer with 56h power reserve, with extract from the chronometer archives by Andreas Hidding

estimated
4.2006.500 €
Price realized
-
specific features
Case
Mahogany.
Dial
Silvered.
Movement
Brass movement, ébauche: Victor Kullberg, chain/fusee, spring detent escapement according to Thomas Earnshaw, bimetallic Guillaume balance for ship's chronometers with 4 screws and 4 weights.
Case no.7656
Diam.190 x 185 x 190 mm
Circa1900
Ctry.Switzerland


Paul Ditisheim (1868-1945) was one of the most famous Swiss maker of watches and chronometers, who did most of his research and his publications in the field of precision timekeeping. He did his apprenticeship at the watchmaking school in La Chaux-de-Fonds, before working in Ponts-de-Martel, Berlin, Paris, and Rotherham (near Coventry). In 1892 he opened up a watchmaking factory in La Chaux-de-Fonds. He presented his watches in many exhibitions and was very sucessful in designing pocket chronometers.
Far more often than ship's chronometers, we find Paul Ditisheim's impressive observation watches on the market, which - often accompanied by certificates of chronometer competitions - generate high prices. The present chronometer also participated in the competition in Neuchâtel in 1908 regulated by Bourquin..