Heavy Swiss 18K rose gold complicated lever watch Circa 1900

Rose gold complicated full hunter 
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An extremely rare and fine, heavy Swiss 18 carat rose gold hunting cased minute repeating split seconds chronograph pocket watch with perpetual calendar and moon phases, circa 1900. A highly complex bridge movement, two hammers, two gongs, a piston tooth lever escapement, gold screw compensation balance and finely mirror polished steel chronograph parts. White enamel dial with black Arabic hours, outer minute divisions with red Arabic numerals, an outermost fifth of a second track, the phases of the moon with concentric auxiliary seconds at 6 o’clock, the days of the week at 9, the months with leap year at 12, the date at 3 and gold Louis XIV hands, the cobalt blue enamel moon phase disc with inlaid gold stars and moon, four sliders on the edge of the dial to adjust the calendar. A stepped plain case, two pushers at 11 and 1 o’clock to operate the double chronograph, a slider, used to trigger the minute repeater. Case numbered, movement signed and numbered, case and movement with matching numbers. Comes with the original wooden presentation box and a bronze medal inscribed D. Golay and signed JC Chaplain.
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Diameter: 60 mm
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Weight: 197 g
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Signed: D. Golay Sentier
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The bronze medal, signed by Jules-Clément Chaplain, was made to commemorate the Universal Exhibition in Paris in 1900 and was awarded to David Auguste Golay for his participation in the exhibition. On the front of the medal is the portrait of Marianne, the national figure of the French Republic. On the reverse, a torchbearer rides the goddess of victory, Victoria, to present palms and laurels to the laureates. The exhibition buildings can be seen in the background.
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David Auguste Golay (1862-1938) began his career as a claims adjuster for Jules Jürgensen in Le Locle, Switzerland. In the early 1880s, Golay returned to his birthplace, Le Sentier, and founded his own company. In 1883, he received an award at the Swiss National Exhibition in Zürich for his fine workmanship and careful manufacturing in precision watchmaking. After the death of J. Alfred Jürgensen in 1912, Golay returned to Le Locle to run the company together with Mrs. Lydia Jürgensen, Jürgensen’s widow. From 1916 to around 1925 he was the sole owner of the company and produced high quality watches by completing unfinished Jürgensen movements.
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Jules-Clément Chaplain (1839-1909) was a French sculptor and one of the country’s best medalists. Together with Louis Oscar Roty (1846-1911) he was a co-founder of Art Nouveau.