Cortébert 665
Description
The Cortébert 665 shown here is from a time, when there was yet no need for cutting costs. It’s a 10 1/2 ligne pallet lever movement with decentral seconds indication, originating probably from the 1940ies.
base plate
It’s a pity, that the plugged chatons are only used on the movement side, but nevertheless, all bearings are made of high quality rubies. Additionally on the minute wheel with its curved legs, you can see the exceptional quality.
gear train
The gear train is still the classical one with decentral second at “6”, with a third wheel and a center minute wheel, which is directly driven by the mainspring barrel.
side view of the gear train
The screw balance, unfortunately only of standard quality, no Glucydur or golden balance, is not shock protected and beats contemporarily slow with 18000 A/h.
Minute-, third- and fourth wheel are beared under one bridge, the escapment wheel below a own cock. This one is very nicely made with a cap jewel and highly polished large setting. It reminds of expensive pocket watch movements.
inside the escapement wheel cock
Another unusual fact is, that the lever is beared under a bridge(!) with two screws:
escapement lever bridge
And that’s the way, the movement looks with balance removed:
movement without balance
On the dial side, you see apart from the specially shaped setting lever angel also parts of a minute dial, which was used that time to regulate the movements before casing them in.
Cortebert 665 dial side
In the lab
The specimen shown here came in a fragment of a case with missing crystal and non fitting back. It was glued(!) into the case together with the dial. The glue couldn't fully be removed, there were even parts on the balance cock, which stayed and hence, the movement cannot be regulated any more. Additionally, the hairspring is a bit damaged with glue.
The movement got a full service since it was gummed up. It now works at least, but with +190 seconds per day in position "dial down". But in consideration of the massive glue damage, this is surprisingly good and shows, but well the movement and its bearings are made.
Technical data
| Manufacturer: | Cortebert |
| Caliber: | 665 |
| Size: | 10 1/2''' (measured: 23,2mm) |
| A/h: | 18000 |
| Number of jewels: | 17 |
| Escapement: | Pallet lever |
| Balance types: |
Nickel screw balance |
| Shock protection(s): |
none |
| Balance bearing / direction hairspring: | Clockwise |
| Moveable stud: | no |
| Adjust mechanism: | Long regulator arm |
| Construction: |
|
| Construction type: | solid construction |
| Winding mechanism: | yoke winding system |
| Setting lever spring: | 3 hole(s) |
| References: |
Flume: 1947 31 |
Usage gallery
Cortebert mens' watch (U.S. export version)