Lot 202

James Nardin

An exquisite, heavy and very rare lever chronometer watch with perpetual calendar, moon phase and retrograde date indicator

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This remarkable hunter watch weighs in at an impressive 181 g and has a very pleasant haptic feel, which is emphasised by the marvellous star and swirl engraving on the gold case. The dial features a fan-shaped opening for the moonphase indication at 12 o’clock with a retrograde pointer date just below. A subsidiary dial for the months sits at 4 o’clock, days of the week in English are positioned at 6 and the small second at 8 o’clock. Even with all these indications the dial retains a very elegant and structured appearance. The movement is in almost untouched original condition.

James Nardin senior (1814-1885) and James Nardin junior (1838-?) both worked as watchmakers and manufacturers in Le Locle.
James Nardin senior, a.k.a. James Nardin-Perret, was a cousin of Ulysse Nardin, who also lived and worked in Locle. He worked as James Nardin-Perret, with Perret being the name of his wife. In 1869 he received an American patent (No. 93.735) for a self-winding watch and in 1873 he donated a maritime chronometer to the Neuchâtel observatory. In 1878 the company received a gold medal at the International Fair in Paris. When Nardin senior died in 1885, his son took over the company.