Gold Swiss enamel jump hour quarter repeater Circa 1830

Gold enamel jump hour quarter repeating open faced watch
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A yellow gold Swiss enamel jump hour quarter repeating open-faced watch, circa 1830, gilt movement with cylinder escapement, flat three-armed balance.
Silvered engine-turned dial, aperture at 12 o’clock for jump hour display, subsidiary seconds.
Yellow gold case, front and reverse decorated with black and white enamel foliate motif, with an aperture for jump hour display at 12 o’clock on front case, cuvette signed, case and cuvette numbered.
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Diameter: 48 mm
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Signed: Vacheron Constantin
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The company was founded in 1755 by Jean-Marc Vacheron, an independent watchmaker in Geneva, Switzerland. In 1770, his company created the first complication, and nine years later he designed the first engine-turned dials.The son of Jean-Marc Vacheron, Abraham, took over the family business in 1785. During this period, the company was able to survive the French Revolution (1789–1799). Later, in 1810, Jacques-Barthélemy Vacheron, the grandson of the founder, became the head of the company. He was the first to initiate the company’s exports to France and Italy. Later, Jacques-Barthélemy realized that he was not able to handle his business alone. In order to travel overseas and sell the company’s products, he needed a partner. Consequently, in 1819 François Constantin became an associate of Vacheron. The company continued its activity under the name Vacheron and Constantin. François Constantin travelled around the world and marketed watches. Thus he helped the company to open new markets. The main market was North America. The company’s motto (which remains today), “Do better if possible and that is always possible,” first appeared in Constantin’s letter to Jacques-Barthélémy.