Extremely rare and well-preserved fine 18K yellow gold hunter Charles OUDIN, Horloger de la Marine, 52 Palais Royal, Paris, case no. 9005, cuvette no. 24583 & 208180, keyless double train/barrels with differential winding and dead-beat / jumping independent centre second pocket watch, made circa 1880s.
Charles Oudin, a renowned watchmaker and student of Breguet, established his workshop in Paris at the Palais Tribunat in 1804, then at the Galerie de Pierre from 1810-20. He was succeeded by his son who transferred the firm to Galerie Montpensier in 1830 and where it remained until 1840, then at Palais National by 1850 and finally Palais Royal in 1860. Oudin watches are of high quality, comparable to those of Charles’ famous teacher Breguet. In 1806, Charles Oudin patented a keyless winding mechanism, which he also presented at the Paris exhibition. The cuvette bears the years relevant exhibitions at which Oudin’s watches got medals, e.g. 1806 -1864.
Case: Four-body, all hinged, “bassine et filets”, back with elaborate initials “M”, gold hinged cuvette signed for Charles Oudin, early round pendant, case punched with French Chimera Hallmarks. Dial: White enamel, Roman numerals, outer minute divisions with five-minute/seconds Arabic markers. Gold “spade” hands. Movement: Frosted gilt, two barrels / double train, cut bimetallic compensation balance with Breguet balance spring, start stop pusher in the band at 6.30 for the independent seconds. Dial and case signed and numbered. Dim. 51 mm.
Watch is in overall great 9/10 condition, running and ready to use!