Benjamin Haas Jeune

An intricate Geneva double hunting case pocket watch with second time zone, minute repeater, perpetual calendar, moon phase and cover winding mechanism

Sold

estimated

18.000—30.000 €

Price realized

26.300 €

Our current catalogue

specific features

Case

18 K pink gold, guilloche pattern.

Dial

Front side: enamel, radial Roman hours, auxiliary seconds, second time zone with Arabic numerals at "3", gold spade hands. Back side: enamel, outer chapter ring with date indicator, fan-shaped aperture for moon phase with cobalt blue enamelled moon phase disc and inlaid golden stars and moon, outer indication of the moon age, two inlaid subdials for display of the weekdays and months in French, gold hands and filigree blued date hand.

Movement

Bridge movement, gold screw compensation balance.

Case no.1900

Diam.56 mm

Circa1900

Ctry.Switzerland

Wt.197 g

This very rare calendar mechanism is fitted with a concealed perpetual calendar, which operates through a visible wheel with a purpose-built gearing that turns once a year. One after the other each of the 12 teeth control the monthly cycle; the variations of the February tooth are created by a mounted submechanism.
Benjamin Haas
English patent No. 3945 of December 2, 1873 was granted to Benjamin Haas for the development of a novel and unusual winding mechanism, which used the energy that is generated when the front cover of the watch is closed. Haas improved the original idea further and his watch possesses a well-developed system with a 36-hour power reserve (generated by twelve closings). Haas changed the going train by adding an additional wheel so that a single closing was able to achieve three hours' winding. He also invented a safety device which disengaged the mechanism when fully wound and thus prevented any damage to the cover.

Haas & Cie.
In 1848 the brothers Leopold (1827-1915) and Benjamin (1828-1925) Haas, both knights of the Légion d'honneur, founded the ANCIENNE MANUFACTURE DES MONTRES HAAS & CIE in Geneva. The company excelled in unique and exceptional pieces and achieved its reputation with exquisite watches that pass for modern even today. Rare treasures such as the split second chronograph and beautifully wrought pocket and wristwatches were created in accordance with the manufacturer's fundamental motto of simplicity, technique and elegance. Benjamin Haas invented a form of winding where the mainspring was wound by opening the front cover of a hunting case watch. Patents, 1873, p. 48 illustrated and outlined British patent No. 3945, issued Dec. 2, 1873 to B. Haas. This patent was licensed to other makers. 1884 Haas changed their name to Haas Neveux & Cie, to communicate that new family members had taken positions in the company. At the same time the original logo of B.H. & Co. (for Benjamin Haas & Co) was changed to a small running hare and the letters HNC in an oval shape - representing the dynamic attitude of the company. In 1896 Haas Neveux & Cie establishes a record with an ultraflat 2mm movement for a ladies' watch and wins a first price for precision in the 1902 competition of the famous "Observatoire de Genève".