JAMES C. PELLATON, LE LOCLE [James C. Pellaton，勒洛克勒] | A VERY FINE KEYLESS ONE-MINUTE TOURBILLON WATCH IN SILVER OPEN-FACED EXHIBITION CASE CIRCA 1930 [一分鐘陀飛輪懷錶配銀製錶殼，年份約1930]

James C. Pellaton (1873-1954) was a second generation watchmaker in Le Locle and developed a reputation as one of the most accomplished watchmakers of the early twentieth century. He apprenticed under his father, Albert Pellaton Favre, who specialized in tourbillon escapements. James Pellaton dedicated his career to developing tourbillons, and together with his father produced 35 tourbillons for Patek Philippe alone. Pellaton went on to become the director of the Le Locle watchmaking school and continued to make tourbillons for notable Swiss brands, earning the reputation as the foremost tourbillon maker of the time. His distinct tourbillon carriage design can be seen on the present lot.