About six months ago, I passed up on a very sweet full hunter quarter repeater. You know, 18 carat... 22 jeweled ... a chime that makes your heart melt. It has an odd little anti-shock arrangement. It's one of those things that just screams quality but is different enough to make me unsure. Today, that watch came back to me.... When I say "sweet", we're not talking Breguet but a really good Lepine-type. I can't see any visible signature though we'll find out if there's a signature under the dial when she goes for a service. The escapement just captivates me... (some sort of spring detent?) ...seriously, I've just spent fifteen minutes watching it. That and the repeater... I wish I could give you a little video on here with sound, but instead I'll just let you have a few photos. She will have to go into the safe for a while until I'm back home but I did wonder if anyone had any comments they could make to start me in the right direction? Most things are visible in the photos. What's hard to photograph are the markings inside the case. In the dust cover is: 94827 and a small mark that looks like sergeant's chevrons inside a rectangular lozenge. Inside of the back cover is: 17193; ByM in an oval (I assume the case maker's mark); 18K; and, 84821. These are arranged in four lines. Any and all pointers much appreciated!
Today has been a "good watch day". Not only have some wonderful pieces been delivered but I received the most tantalising of photographs from my watchmaker. Now, it should be noted that I pay for his watchmaking expertise and not his photography skills. It's been slowly eating me away inside that I've not managed to put a maker's name to this watch but ... maybe ... The back of the dial shows this: # early Francois Borgel? Meanwhile, I swear he's just tormenting me with this photo ... There's what looks like a maker's mark hiding behind the bridge at the 5 o clock position as well as two more "somethings" at the 12 o clock position (in the photo) and on the edge of the case ... .I can't make out any of them! Considered opinions as well as outright guesses are welcome! Edit: is that AS at the top? Anton Schilde? Surely not?