Swiss pink gold 1ste quality precision pocket watch Circa 1890

Gold hunting cased keyless lever
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An extremely fine Swiss, 18 carat pink gold 1ste quality precision pocket watch, circa 1880. A keyless pocket lever Chronometer with helical balance spring. Cased by J.E. Caldwell & Co., Philadelphia. A polished case, flat covers with reeded edges, polished band and a hinged gold cuvette. White enamel dial with radial Roman numerals, outer minute track, subsidiary seconds and blued steel spade hands. Nickel plated movement, Geneva striping decoration, 17 jewels, the upper jewels in screwed gold chatons, straight-line lever escapement with bishop’s crook counterpoise, large bimetallic compensation balance with gold meantime and temperature adjustment screws, blued steel helical balance spring with inner and outer terminal curves, index regulator. Dial and movement signed Ls. Audemars, case signed J.E. Caldwell, Philadelphia.
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Diameter: 52 mm
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Signed: Louis Audemars  Brassus & Geneva
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Accompanied by the original rosewood box and original certificate
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Audemars Piguet & Cie. Jules Louis Audemars, born on March 28th, 1851 and died on October 15th, 1918 and Edward Auguste Piguet born in 1853 and died in 1919 were two young and ambitious watchmakers who established their workshop in 1875 in their home village Le Brassus, Vallée de Joux, Switzerland. Audemars was in charge of production and technical aspects while Piguet focused on sales and management. Believing in the power of the Vallée de Joux’s network of artisanship and following their firm convictions, they set on crafting unique complicated mechanisms by hand at a time when serial production was looming with the rise of industrialisation.
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While the two entrepreneurs first produced complicated movements that were sold to Geneva-based firms, they soon orchestrated the production of complete watches in the region by coordinating the activities of a variety of craftsmen, buying in blanks, cases, dials, bracelets and sending out pieces for gem-setting and decorating. The miniaturisation, design, assembly and setting of movements were then done at Audemars Piguet’s workbenches. The company ledgers demonstrate that nearly 80% of the 1600 watches produced by Audemars Piguet between 1882 and 1892 included at least one, if not several complications. Refined chiming, chronograph and astronomical watches, assembled and finished by hand, have remained the beating heart of Audemars Piguet ever since.