Swiss gold lever watch with portrait of Napoleon Circa 1910

Gold, diamond-set lever with portrait by Vacheron & Constantin
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A very fine, exceptionally rare Swiss 18 carat gold open faced lever pocket watch with solid relief portrait of Napoleon to the reverse set with diamonds, the case further set with a total of 36 diamonds, the winding crown set with a significant diamond, circa 1910. Rhodium-plated movement, 17 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, cut bimetallic adjusted balance, blued steel flat balance spring, index regulator. Silver dial with central guilloché pattern, Breguet numerals on a plain reserve with outer minute track, subsidiary seconds and original gold spade hands. Hinged, satin-finished case, reeded band, the reverse with central relief portrait of Napoleon set with diamonds, two concentric outer wreath pattern rings each set with 12 diamonds, the bezel with matching wreath pattern set 12 diamonds, wreath design bow, the winding crown set with a single diamond plain gold cuvette. Dial and movement signed, case numbered.
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Diameter: 52 mm
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Signed: Vacheron & Constantin Genève
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According to the owner, this watch originally belonged to New York financier and philanthropist James Brady, more commonly known as ‘Diamond Jim Brady’. Purchased from the estate after his death in 1917 by Jim Brady’s childhood friend Jules Weiss, it was gifted to the current owner in 1928 and has remained, unused, in the family’s possession ever since.
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The Vacheron Archives state that the watch was manufactured with a plain gold case.