Antique Le Phare 18K Gold Pocket Watch with Minute Repeater. Switzerland c.1900

Antique Le Phare 18K Gold Pocket Watch with Minute Repeater. Switzerland c.1900 This minute repeater pocket watch by the prestigious Swiss manufacture Le Phare, made around 1900, is a magnificent example of high complication watchmaking from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It is preserved in exceptional condition, with impeccable functioning both in the timekeeping and in the striking, which is especially notable in pieces of this age. The quarter and minute repeating acts with total clarity, offering a precise and well regulated sound. This watch, constructed entirely in 18K gold and equipped with a movement protected under glass, represents a piece of great interest for collectors and lovers of traditional watchmaking. The exterior presents an 18K gold case with three covers, decorated with a fine and homogeneous guilloché that provides discreet and elegant reflections. Its rounded shape and the smooth profile recall the high manufacture watches of the early twentieth century. When opening the front cover, a white enamel dial of great purity appears, with Roman numerals and peripheral minute track. The hands, in Louis XV style, provide a very characteristic decorative touch of the period, with delicate forms and a certain artistic air. The subsidiary seconds dial, located at six, integrates harmoniously in the ensemble, favouring a clear and balanced reading. The whole front of the watch stands out for its classical, elegant and timeless character, reflecting the refined taste of its historical moment. In keeping with its age, the watch presents two minor details consistent with use and the passage of time. On the one hand, the front cover opening system does not cause the cover to spring open automatically when the push button is pressed and it needs to be gently assisted with a finger. On the other hand, the case shows a small dent on one of its sides, clearly visible in the video of the watch, where it is shown in detail. Neither of these aspects affects the structural integrity of the piece nor the excellent condition of the movement and the flawless operation of the striking mechanism. The dust cover, also in 18K gold, is one of the most striking parts of the watch. Engraved on it are several medals and international awards, together with the name “Le Phare”, unmistakable sign of the prestige achieved by the manufacture. This type of decoration was used by houses of high reputation to guarantee to the buyer the technical superiority of their mechanisms. The medals represent recognitions obtained in universal exhibitions and industrial fairs, where Le Phare excelled for its complications, its precision and its reliability. This cover, besides being decorated, fulfils its protective function with firmness and opens and closes smoothly, showing that it has been treated with care throughout its life. The movement, visible thanks to the protective glass, is in impeccable condition. The mechanism stands out for an upper bridge of unusual design, more complex and less common than that of most standard calibres of the period. This type of technical architecture is characteristic of Le Phare specialized movements, especially in repeater watches. The gears show a clean and bright finish, the jewels are well seated and the gear train turns smoothly. The regulation is stable and the striking responds with precision both in the quarters and in the minutes. It is a solid, reliable and technically interesting movement due to its uncommon configuration, which adds additional appeal to this historical piece. This watch brings together beauty, technique and exceptional preservation, which makes it a highly collectible piece. It is an opportunity to incorporate into a collection a high complication watch from a renowned Swiss manufacture. Moreover, its aesthetic presentation and impeccable functioning make it ideal for a gift or for someone seeking a piece with history and character. Few pieces combine so well the elegance of the period, the constructive quality and the technical appeal of a minute repeater. The sensations it conveys in hand and the perfect sound of its mechanism make it a watch destined to be appreciated for generations. Measurements: 53 mm. Weight: 111.3 g. History of Le Phare The manufacture Le Phare was founded in 1888 in Le Locle, Switzerland, by Henry Alfred Lugrin, one of the most outstanding specialists in complications of his time. From its earliest years, Le Phare positioned itself as one of the leading companies in the production of quarter repeater and minute repeater movements, specializing in high precision mechanisms destined for other watch houses and also for watches signed under its own name. The company achieved international fame in the major industrial exhibitions of the late nineteenth century, where it obtained numerous medals and recognitions that it would later engrave on its dust covers, as testimony of its technical excellence. Le Phare distinguished itself not only for the refinement of its mechanisms, but also for constant innovation. Its movements were known for their uncommon configurations, including bridges of singular design and advanced mechanical solutions to improve the stability of the gear train and the clarity of the striking. During the first decades of the twentieth century, the manufacture collaborated with numerous renowned houses, supplying repeater calibres that today are highly valued by collectors and experts. The reputation of Le Phare was founded on its reliability, the precision of its complications and a very high level of finishing. The preserved pieces, especially minute repeaters in gold, are considered exceptional testimonies of a golden age of Swiss watchmaking, where artisanal skill reached one of its highest points.