Montre de poche 67 mm “Automobile Régulateur” – format géant - 1850-1900

Rare and imposing pocket watch “Automobile Régulateur” – giant 67 mm diameter – silvered metal – circa 1900

Superb and rare regulator-style pocket watch, remarkable for its exceptional size of 67 mm in diameter (excluding the pendant). This model, called “Automobile,” typical of the Belle Époque, is a true collector’s piece, both for its aesthetics and for its imposing presence.

• Dial: White enamel dial in very good condition, with no cracks or hairlines. Double graduation with Roman numerals for hours and Arabic numerals (5 to 60) for minutes. Superb central illustration depicting an antique automobile, a strong symbol of modernity at the beginning of the 20th century. Inscription “Automobile Régulateur Déposé.”
• Case: Silvered metal stamped, presenting a beautiful vintage patina. Careful engravings on the back as well as on the pendant.
• Dimensions: Non-standard format with a diameter of 67 mm, a handsome thickness and substantial weight in the hand.

• Movement: It is a manually wound mechanical movement with a bridge-style architecture, characteristic of watchmaking produced at the end of the 19th century (around 1880–1900), in the Swiss and French tradition.

The caliber features careful and balanced construction, with a layout of bridges typical of high-quality watches of that era.

• Condition: Watch in perfect working order. It keeps time with very good accuracy for a piece of this age. Very good overall aesthetic condition.

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History of the great “Régulateur” models

Why this format?
Between the late 19th century and the early 20th century (1890–1910), these oversized watches were not solely designed for ordinary pocket use. Their large diameter served several needs:
1. Readability: used as true onboard instruments in early automobiles or locomotives, allowing quick and clear time reading.
2. Reinforced solidity: the large case better protected the movement from shocks and dust.
3. Prestige object: owning a watch of this type demonstrated an interest in the technological innovations of the era, notably the automobile depicted on the dial.

Manufacture and origin:
• Period: 1895–1910 (Belle Époque)
• Origin: primarily Swiss or France (Jura region / Besançon)