Description

A fine late 19^th Century Swiss minute repeating lever in a gold open face case.  High quality keyless nickelled bar movement manufactured by Meylan, going barrel.  Plain cock with polished steel micrometer regulator.  Compensation balance with blue steel overcoil hairspring.  Club foot lever escapement, escape and lever pivots with endstones.  Slide minute repeating on two polished steel gongs.  Signed white enamel dial with subsidiary seconds, Roman and Arabic numerals, blue steel hands.  Unusual plain 18 carat open face case converted to be used as a wristwatch by adding a second pendant and false crown at six o'clock, probably early in its life.  Applied wire work monogram to the back cover, slide close th the pendant which stops the hands being set.  Engraved dedication on the gold cuvette, “Mary D Biddle  from her children SFBB – LMBR – HJB – CWB   Christmas 1894”.