Lot 219

Nicolet Fils & Cie

An exceptional Swiss pocket watch with an innovative dial design and chronograph

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Nicolet Fils & Cie presented a remarkable chronograph calibre in 1892, recognisable by its counterclockwise rotating minute counter. Stauffer, Son & Co. chronographs fitted with this very fine movement were crowned with success, winning three first places in the chronometry category at Kew (London) in 1906, then prizes at various sporting events, notably the famous Gorden-Bennet Coupe from 1903 to 1905. Various patents for improved chronographs were filed by Nicolet Fils, notably No. 10582 for a pusher placed opposite the winding stem, the position later used on wrist chronographs. Despite these successes, Stauffer, Son & Co. did not achieve the level of recognition of the Heuer or Breitling companies. Until 1920, this company still existed under the name Atlas Watch Co. The appearance of the movements of the Nicolet Fils chronographs is remarkable and on a par with the products of the companies in the Vallée de Joux.