Large Swiss 18 carat gold quarter repeating musical watch Circa 1820

Gold open faced musical watch by Piguet & Meylan
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A remarkable and large Swiss 18 carat gold open faced quarter repeating musical pocket watch, circa 1820. Bridge movement, key wind, two hammers, two gongs, two barrels, pinned-disc musical mechanism (sur plateau) with vibrating blades, mirror-polished levers for musical movement, cylinder escapement, three-arm gold ring balance. Gilt and silvered, engine-turned dial with Roman hours and minute track, blued Breguet hands, the front bezel conceals a lever at 8 o’clock to activate/deactivate playing music on the hour or at will, a tiny slider at 6 o’clock releases the musical movement. Engine-turned case, maker’s mark IR and PM for Piguet & Meylan. Case numbered.
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Diameter: 59 mm
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Weight: 130 g
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Signed: Piguet & Meylan à Brassus
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Piguet & Meylan were both originally from the village of Le Chenit in the Vallée de Joux, Isaac Daniel Piguet (1775-1841) and Philippe Samuel Meylan (1772- 1845) came to Geneva as young men and formed a partnership that lasted from 1811 to 1828. The company specialized in elaborate and beautifully decorated musical watches, including skeleton and automaton watches and mechanical animals. They employed some of the best enamel painters to decorate their watches. The company further are particularly known for their watches made for the Chinese Market. Examples of their work are in many of the world’s foremost collections including the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Musée d’Horlogerie in Le Locle. The firm was established at 45, Rue Jean Jacques Rousseau in Geneva. After their association came to an end both Piguet and Meylan continued for some time to work with their sons.