Visitors to the exhibition will be able to discover an 1812 red gold quarter-repeater pocket watch with a guilloché dial testifying to this longstanding tradition, along with an 1827 pocket watch with quarter repeater, jumping hours and small seconds. Each of the exhibition showcases will provide an opportunity to take a closer look at the mysteries of a rare horological complication much sought-after by well-known collectors.
The advent of the wristwatch in the 20th century led watchmakers to seek and find ingenious ways of miniaturising striking mechanisms in order to meet the demands of smaller and slimmer cases. This quest gave rise to spectacular feats of ultimate finesse, such as this 1955 minute repeater model equipped with a calibre measuring less than 3.28mm thick. Other ultra-thin timepieces housing a number of complications were to follow, each expressing pure and exquisite beauty – as is admirably embodied in this exhibition by a minute repeater featuring a movement entirely openworked and decorated by hand.
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