RARE RESTORATION PROJECT Extremely rare Fabrique de Faverges (pre-Minerva) split-seconds Chronotimer offered strictly as a restoration project. These specialised Faverges / early Minerva precision timers are seldom encountered on the market, and examples featuring both a column-wheel chronograph and split-seconds (rattrapante) mechanism are particularly difficult to find. This is an uncommon opportunity to acquire a historically important precision timing instrument for restoration, study or an advanced collection. The movement is currently non-operational and requires professional servicing. The mainspring can be wound and the mechanism may be observed by gently initiating motion at the balance, after which the movement can run briefly before stopping. In most cases it will not continue running on its own and should be considered in need of a complete overhaul. At the time of inspection: • the movement can be wound; • chronograph controls works; • pushers operate; • the split-seconds mechanism reacts and functions mechanically; • the movement may run briefly when the balance is manually encouraged into motion; • the movement does not maintain continuous operation. The mechanism appears dry from age and overdue for service. There is also a possibility that one adjustment component, guide screw or eccentric may be absent from the upper chronograph works, although this has not been verified. Interested buyers should examine the photographs carefully, particularly the empty threaded positions visible beneath the crown side of the movement. Sold exactly as found and entirely as a restoration project. No guarantee is made regarding completeness, originality, accuracy or future functionality. A highly unusual and very scarce Faverges / pre-Minerva chronograph timer that is unlikely to be encountered again in similar form.   Rare Swiss Fabrique de Faverges precision Chronotimer with split-seconds (rattrapante) mechanism, housed in a large 57 mm case. An unusual and technically sophisticated timing instrument manufactured by Fabrique de Faverges, the historic Swiss company later known under the Minerva name. The movement bears the early company trademark beneath the balance — the characteristic arrow within a circle, identifying production from the Faverges / pre-Minerva period. This is not a standard stopwatch. The watch incorporates a full column-wheel chronograph mechanism combined with a split-seconds (rattrapante) system allowing comparison of two elapsed intervals. The dial layout is highly specialized and differs significantly from ordinary sporting stopwatches. The main scale is divided into 300 units per revolution. Based on the dial configuration, the instrument appears intended for very fine precision measurements where 1 second corresponds to 100 units, with a complete lap corresponding to 300 units. The subsidiary register is unusually graduated to 78 seconds, followed by an unmarked sector before returning to zero, indicating a total cycle of approximately 90 seconds. This uncommon arrangement suggests the timer was designed for a specific scientific, industrial, technical or laboratory application rather than general sporting use. The movement features a fast-running balance system and precision chronograph train architecture associated with high-grade Swiss timing instruments of the period. Examples of similar specialized chronoscopes and chronotimers were historically employed in: scientific laboratories; industrial process timing; engineering and mechanical testing; telecommunications timing experiments; military and ballistic observation work; technical research and measurement applications. Due to its unusual scale arrangement and rattrapante construction, the exact original application remains uncertain, making this a fascinating research piece for collectors of scientific instruments and precision chronographs. Specifications Manufacturer: Fabrique de Faverges (Pre-Minerva) Country: Switzerland Type: Precision Chronotimer / Chronoscope Mechanism: Manual wind Chronograph: Yes Split-seconds (Rattrapante): Yes Chronograph control: Column wheel Case diameter: 57 mm Dial: Enamel precision scale Main scale: 300 divisions per revolution Central timing hand: Precision high-speed indication Subsidiary register: Graduated to 78 seconds with extended return sector, approximately 90-second total cycle Trademark: Early Fabrique de Faverges arrow-in-circle logo beneath balance Period: Estimated 1920s–1940s