Historically interesting Swiss 18K gold lever watch Circa 1878

Gold presentation watch by Tiffany & Co
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A very fine, historically interesting Swiss 18 carat gold open faced lever pocket watch, circa 1878. Bridge movement, the caliber by Piguet Frères, a piston tooth lever escapement and gold screw compensation balance. The gold cuvette with a dedication engraving: Presented to Mr William W. Russell US Chargé d’Affaires at Caracas Venezuela by his grateful friends Umpires Duffield Plumley and Ralston as a token of their appreciation of his many personal favors to them during their stay in Caracas Oct. 29, 1903. White enamel dial with Arabic hours, an outer minute track, subsidiary seconds at 6 o’clock and spade & whip hands. A plain case with the monogram WWR on the back. Dial signed, case numbered, movement signed and numbered. Comes with the original presentation box.
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Diameter: 47 mm
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Weight: 71 g
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Signed: Tiffany & Co made in Switzerland
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Tiffany & Co, colloquially known as Tiffany’s, was founded in 1837 by the jeweller Charles Lewis Tiffany and became famous in the early 20th century under the artistic direction of his son Louis Comfort Tiffany. It is an American luxury jewellery and speciality design house headquartered on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, New York.
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In 1874, Tiffany & Co opened its watch factory in Geneva, Switzerland, under the management of Patek Philippe, which was closed again four years later and only produced a small number of movements. The machinery was brought back to the United States after the closure.
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William Worthington Russell Jr., born in 1858 and died in 1944, was an American diplomat who served under five presidents. He studied engineering and worked in the railway industry before entering the diplomatic service. Russell was involved in several surveys of railway lines in South America, Mexico and the United States and was assistant engineer in locating the route of the Eads Ship Railway across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. He also served as a watch officer on the Brazilian cruiser America, delivered at the time of the Melo Revolution in 1893. In 1895, he was appointed secretary of the American legation in Caracas, Venezuela, where he served until 1904, when he was appointed secretary of the legation and embassy counselor ad interim in Panama City (after the secession from Colombia in 1903). On March 17, 1904, Russell was appointed Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States to Colombia by President Theodore Roosevelt.