Swiss gold lever made for the South American market Circa 1890

Gold historically interesting full hunter
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A very fine and historically interesting Swiss 18 carat gold hunting cased quarter repeating lever pocket watch with stoppable independent center seconds made for the South American market, circa 1890. Bridge movement, two hammers, two gongs, two barrels with tandem winding and two matted overhead clicks, a piston tooth lever escapement and gold screw compensation balance. An artfully floral engraved gold cuvette. White enamel dial with Roman hours, an outer minute track and Fleur-de-Lys hands. The hallmarked case is richly engraved on all sides, the central monogram AAC for Alejandro A. Cameron in a cartouche on the front, the inner lid with a dedication engraving Sociedad Explotadora Tierra del Fuego Chile 1893-1915 Al Señor Alejandro A. Cameron Recuerdo De Sus Servicios (Society for the Development of Tierra del Fuego Chile 1893-1915 for Mr. Alejandro A. Cameron in memory of his services). Dial, case and cuvette signed and numbered, movement signed.
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Diameter: 54 mm
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Weight: 142 g
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Signed: Hi Grandjean & Co Locle London
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This timepiece is the perfect result of the collaboration between a master goldsmith and a gifted watchmaker. The ceremonial full hunter has three watchmaking complications: a quarter repeater, independent, stoppable center seconds and two barrels with tandem winding, inspired by the works of Sylvain Mairet (1805-1890). The elaborately engraved case has a beautiful high relief in taille-douce with stylized foliage and geometric patterns. The cases made in Le Locle were among the best and most beautiful in the country and were famous for their elaborate gold work and engravings.
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Alejandro A. Cameron (1868-1950) was awarded this watch for his 18 years of service at the Sociedad Explotadora Tierra del Fuego as general manager (1893- 1915). The Sociedad Explotadora de Tierra del Fuego (SETF) (Society for the Development of Tierra del Fuego) was a historically important company that operated in the Chilean and Argentine Patagonia region. Founded in 1893, it managed over 1 million hectares of land for sheep farming, as well as private factories for processing and exporting sheep meat.
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The Swiss chronometer maker Henri Grandjean was born on December 14, 1803 in Le Locle. From 1824 to 1830 he was entrusted with organizing the South American branches of his father’s company. His brother Henri Gustave moved to Peru in 1830 and from then on tried to establish the South American branches. Henri learned the profession of a watchmaker in his hometown. Around 1830, he started the production of marine chronometers based on the English model in his factory Henri Grandjean & Cie. His business partner was Edouard Thévenaz. With Louis Jean Richard and Ulysse Nardin, Henri Grandjean was the founder of Swiss marine chronometer production.

In 1831, Grandjean married Isaac Pierre’s daughter, Elise Montandon. He requested and received permission to set up watchmaking schools. He founded the Neuchâtel Observatory. Later he also worked as a politician. He was a deputy and prefect of Le Locle. In La Chaux-de-Fonds he tried to build the Quartier-Neuf, which was built in 1855 with the aim of curbing real estate speculation and creating affordable housing for working class families.

Today a street in Le Locle is named after him, Rue Henri-Grandjean. Grandjean died on March 21, 1889 in Le Locle.