Chinese Market Gold and Enamel Duplex
£25,000.00
A large early 19th Century Swiss duplex in a pearl set gold and enamel case. Large centre seconds keywind bar movement with polished steel plate, bridges, wheels and going barrel, polished steel screws. The bridge for the train set with a dovetailed polished steel insert with the signature in light blue champleve enamel. Sector cock, light blue champleve enamel index markings on a dovetailed insert, garnet endstone in a polished steel setting, polished steel regulator. Polished steel suspended going barrel. Uncut bimetallic three arm balance with three blue steel affixes, spiral blue steel hairspring. Steel single tooth duplex escape wheel, jewelled locking roller. Fine signed white enamel centre seconds dial with slender Roman numerals, blue steel hands. Fine gold and enamel open face case, wound and set through the glazed engraved sprung cuvette. Gold bezels, oval pendant and bow set with split pearls. Gold band set with red, white, green, light and dark blue champleve enamel. Gold back finely decorated in polychrome enamel depicting two white doves amongst flowers and foliage on a light blue ground.
Almost all watches with centre seconds movements made for the Chinese market of this form were constructed with engraved gilt brass plates and bridges. The use of steel for the major components is more difficult and generally less practical than brass but it appears that some Chinese customers preferred the unusual finish. The use of champleve enamel for the signature and index on dovetailed inserts demonstrates the care taken finishing the movement. Interestingly components normally blued, such as screws, have been left polished with exception of the affixes to the balance which are said to ward off dragons. Edouard Bovet registered his company in London on May 1, 1822 expressly to manufacture watches for the Chinese market. In 1823 the Bovet brothers established the company in Canton, China.
Technical Specifications
- Reference Number
- A1319
- Circa
- 1830
- Signed
- Bovet - Fleurier
- Dimensions
- Diameter 58 mm
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