The present watch is not only highly attractive and pleasing to the eye with visible moving parts, it is also technically fascinating and innovative.
The balance has a seconds-beating action to allow the centre seconds hand to advance in one-second increments, the escapement is ultimately derived from that invented by Moise Pouzait in the late 18th century. The centre seconds hand can be stopped/activated by a lever in the band.
Frères Achard, makers of this watch, were evidently familiar with Moise Pouzait’s lever escapement which he developed in the 1780s. In 1786 Pouzait made a model of his escapement which he presented to the Geneva Societe des Arts.
Due to its highly visible and mesmerizing action, Pouzait’s invention was much appreciated by the Chinese before Jacot’s invention of the “Chinese duplex” escapement which made the production of centre-seconds watches feasible in larger numbers.
The brothers François and Georges Achard were master watchmakers in Geneva, working together until 1796. They were recorded for having made gold and enamel watches, with automata and also quarter repeating.