Swiss centre seconds lever for the Chinese market Circa 1875

Silver lever with centre seconds and long chain by Juvet
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A fine Swiss silver open faced centre seconds lever pocket watch with long silver chain made for the Chinese market, circa 1875. Gilded and entirely foliate engraved movement, Chinese calibre, ten jewels, free-standing barrel, counterpoised lateral lever escapement, bimetallic compensation balance, flat balance spring, index regulator. Spring-loaded and glazed cuvette. White enamel dial with narrow Roman numerals, outer minute divisions and Arabic 15-second numerals, original blued steel ovoid hands. Polished consular case. Dial, case and movement signed Juvet in Chinese characters.
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Diameter: 55 mm
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Signed: Léo Juvet Shanghai
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Juvet. One of the important Swiss horological families working for the Chinese market. Edouard Juvet (1820-1883) established his workshop in Buttes in 1842, but in 1844 moved to Fleurier. He began making ‘Chinese’ watches in 1856. Edouard’s sons Ami-Louis and Léo travelled to China to work in the family firm. In Shanghai, the Juvets were rivaled only by the Bovets, yet the two families maintained friendly relations. The Maison Juvet prospered, opening branches in Tien-Tsin and Saigon. In 1873, Edouard Juvet registered a trademark in Chinese characters which was used on the company’s products.