French 18k gold quarter repeating cylinder watch Circa 1840

Gold quarter repeater by A. Benoit & Cie
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A very fine French 18 carat gold open faced quarter repeating cylinder pocket watch, circa 1840. Repassee a la Fabrique de Versailles. Gilt brass movement, standing barrel, 6 jewels, ruby cylinder escapement, gold three armed balance, blued steel flat balance spring with bimetallic temperature compensation curb on the index regulator, repeating on gongs activated by depressing the pendant. Hinged gilt brass cuvette. Guilloché silver dial, engine turned, Roman numerals on a brushed chapter ring, outer dot minute divisions, subsidiary seconds and original blued steel Breguet hands. Polished case, bolt at 1 o’clock for locking the repeating. Dial and cuvette signed.
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Diameter: 53 mm
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Signed: A. Benoit & Cie Paris
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Achille-Hubert Benoit, 1804-1895, was the son of watchmaker Pierre Benoit, who worked for Breguet. A highly skilled and respected watchmaker, in 1839 he was named director, along with Sicamoin, of the Manufacture Royale d’Horlogerie Française.