Extra flat Swiss gold and enamel cylinder watch Circa 1840

Gold and enamel ultra-thin pocket watch by Leber & Fils
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A fine, very rare and extra flat Swiss 18 Carat gold and enamel cylinder pocket watch, circa 1840. Gilt-brass movement, Lépine calibre, 14 jewels, gold wheel train, cylinder escapement, plain three-arm balance, flat balance spring, index regulator, female winding. Gold hinged cuvette with engine-turned border. Silver dial with painted Roman numerals, outer minute divisions, floral engraved centre and original blued steel Breguet hands. Case with elaborate floral engraving and polychrome champlevé enamel decoration, reeded band, hinged front cover with an eccentric glazed aperture for the dial. Cuvette signed, case and movement numbered.
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Diameter: 45 mm
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Thickness: 4 mm
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Thickness movement: 2 mm
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Signed: Lebet & Fils à Buttes en Suisse
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The present watch is exceptionally thin for the period, thinner than most even with Bagnolet calibre movements. It was evidently made as a special piece because apart from the extreme thinness of the movement the wheel train is made of gold and it has a higher number of jewels than most watches of this period. It was not until the 20th century that makers such as Vacheron & Constantin made watches of equal thinness.