Swiss gold, enamel and stone-set keyless cylinder watch Circa 1885

Gold, enamel and stone-set miniature watch by Borel Fils & Cie
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A fine Swiss 14 carat gold, enamel and stone-set hunting-cased keyless miniature pocket watch, circa 1880s. Frosted gilt movement, bridge calibre, 16 jewels, cylinder escapement, three-arm balance, blued steel Breguet balance spring. Hinged gold cuvette. A porcelain dial with painted black Arabic hours, gold outer minute dots and gold-plated Louis XV hands. Solid case, an engraved band, flower decoration set with 10 stones on the front, a polychrome enamel flower motif beneath, the hinged back with flower decoration and a polychrome enamel flower motif. Dial and cuvette signed, movement numbered.
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Diameter: 26 mm
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Thickness: 9 mm
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Signed: Borel Fils & Cie
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The Borel Fils & Cie watch company was established in 1856 in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, by watchmaker Jules Borel.
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In 1859, along with his brother-in-law, Paul Courvoisier, Borel established the Borel-Courvoisier watch company. They won several awards in the late 19th century, including first place in the 1866 Neuchâtel Observatory timing accuracy competition.
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In 1898, Jules’ son, Ernest Borel, took over the company and he formally changed the name to Ernest Borel & Cie the following year. Ernest Borel was the head of the company until 1936, when his son, Jean-Louis Borel, succeeded him as manager. In 1975, the company was bought by the firm Aubry Frère S.A. It was sold to a Hong Kong-based company in 1989.