Swiss ultra thin 18K gold open faced verge watch Circa 1840

Gold ladies’ pocket watch
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An exquisite and ultra thin Swiss 18 carat gold open faced key wind pocket watch made by Robert Brandt & Compagnie in La Chaux-de-Fonds, circa 1840. The full plate Bagnolet caliber movement is lavishly florally engraved. Silver dial with Roman hour numerals, outer minute divisions, a decoratively engraved center and moon hands. The engine turned, lavishly florally engraved case with maker’s mark FM. Case numbered, movement signed.
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Diameter: 39 mm
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Weight: 24 g
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Signed: Robert Brandt & Cie
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Even including the dial, this pocket watch’s movement only measures a little more than 2 mm!
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In the Bagnolet caliber, the movement is inverted and the train reversed. The idea was to make a very thin watch by reducing the thickness of the bridges and dial, and eliminating the cuvette. Philippe Samuel Meylan is credited with inventing the Bagnolet caliber.
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Robert Brandt & Compagnie was based in La Chaux-de-Fonds and is believed to be the successor to Brandt, Jeanrenaud & Robert (or Robert, Brandt et Jeanrenaud). In 1888, Louis, Edouard and Fritz Brandt continued the company.