![ALBERT H. POTTER & CO., GENEVA [Albert H. Potter & Co.，日內瓦] | AN IMPORTANT AND POSSIBLY UNIQUE GOLD OPEN-FACED KEYLESS WATCH WITH UNUSUAL LEVER ESCAPEMENT AND SINGLE RUBY-TOOTH ESCAPE WHEEL, AND REGULATOR DIAL CIRCA 1887, NO. 1 [罕有黃金懷錶備罕有槓桿式擒縱系統、紅寶石單鉤擒縱齒輪及三針一線錶盤，年份約1887，編號1，可能為孤例]](https://dam.sothebys.com/dam/image/lot/aef0e532-cca0-4284-8647-c8268863fbb3/primary/extra_small)
![View full screen - View 1 of Lot 11. ALBERT H. POTTER & CO., GENEVA [Albert H. Potter & Co.，日內瓦] | AN IMPORTANT AND POSSIBLY UNIQUE GOLD OPEN-FACED KEYLESS WATCH WITH UNUSUAL LEVER ESCAPEMENT AND SINGLE RUBY-TOOTH ESCAPE WHEEL, AND REGULATOR DIAL CIRCA 1887, NO. 1 [罕有黃金懷錶備罕有槓桿式擒縱系統、紅寶石單鉤擒縱齒輪及三針一線錶盤，年份約1887，編號1，可能為孤例].](https://sothebys-md.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/221b7db/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1499x2000+0+0/resize/385x514!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsothebys-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fmedia-desk%2Fea%2Fc9%2Ff7109f3c4585a80c76fa7601f49f%2F008n10397-9xk2z-2.jpg)
ALBERT H. POTTER & CO., GENEVA [Albert H. Potter & Co.，日內瓦] | AN IMPORTANT AND POSSIBLY UNIQUE GOLD OPEN-FACED KEYLESS WATCH WITH UNUSUAL LEVER ESCAPEMENT AND SINGLE RUBY-TOOTH ESCAPE WHEEL, AND REGULATOR DIAL CIRCA 1887, NO. 1 [罕有黃金懷錶備罕有槓桿式擒縱系統、紅寶石單鉤擒縱齒輪及三針一線錶盤，年份約1887，編號1，可能為孤例]
Lot Closed
June 16, 02:15 PM GMT
Estimate
40,000 - 60,000 CHF
Lot Details
Description
ALBERT H. POTTER & CO., GENEVA
[Albert H. Potter & Co.，日內瓦]
AN IMPORTANT AND POSSIBLY UNIQUE GOLD OPEN-FACED KEYLESS WATCH WITH UNUSUAL LEVER ESCAPEMENT AND SINGLE RUBY-TOOTH ESCAPE WHEEL, AND REGULATOR DIAL
CIRCA 1887, NO. 1
[罕有黃金懷錶備罕有槓桿式擒縱系統、紅寶石單鉤擒縱齒輪及三針一線錶盤，年份約1887，編號1，可能為孤例]
• Movement: unusual v-shaped central bridge with pearled machined decoration and screwed gold chaton jewels, similarly decorated s-shaped balance cock with index regulator, lever escapement, the patented escape wheel with single ruby-tooth, bi-metallic compensation balance, going barrel with Maltese-cross stop work, signed Albert Potter & Co., Geneva, No. 1 in his trademark logo
• Dial: white enamel regulator-type, outer Arabic minute ring, two subsidiary dials for hours with Roman numerals and seconds with Arabic numerals, signed Albert H. Potter & Co., Geneva
• Case: 18ct gold, plain polished band and case back, rounded bezels, hands set by folding the bow forwards to the case, centre of the inside case back stamped Albert H. Potter & Co.
diameter 49mm
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Theodor Beyer Collection, Zurich
Antiquorum Zurich, The Private Collection of Theodor Beyer, 16 November 2003, lot 98
The present lot exemplifies Potter at his most ingenious and, to the best of our knowledge, may be a truly unique piece. Potter had built a reputation for himself after patenting a new design for a lever escapement and a pivoted detent escapement. Following his move to Switzerland in 1875, he sought to improve upon those designs, thus resulting in the present piece in 1887.
Most likely a prototype, this watch embodies Potter's desire to create a high quality affordable piece easy to clean, read, and set. Potter designed the pillar plate to incorporate the band that the bezel and back snap into, thus eliminating the need for another case band. He arranged the train of this piece in a straight line, so it requires only one bridge. Most interestingly, this piece showcases Potter's patented single-tooth lever escapement, made from just a ruby pin set on a steel plate set to the pinion. He patented this design on 5 April 1887.
Potter made the back plate of the movement an integral part of the case so that the case body and back plate could be stamped by sheet block with one blow, with no need for machinery.