Swiss silver watch made for the Chinese market Circa 1880

Silver watch with center seconds
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A fine Swiss silver, enamel and pearl open faced keywinding pocket watch, made by Bovet in Fleurier, circa 1800. Center seconds watch made for the Chinese market. Royal blue translucent enamel over guilloché case back, with polychrome painting on enamel showing the portrait of a young Western woman, looking to the left, bezels set with half-pearls. White enamel dial, with radial Roman numerals, gold paillons décor and blued steel Spade hands. A gilded brass movement, engraved Chinese style, going barrel, lateral equilibrated lever escapement, compensated balance with gold poising screws and steel flat hairspring, polished steel index regulator. Signature on the case, Chinese Bovet’s trademark. The case with prestige hallmarks imitating a London letter date ‘J’, which in fact doesn’t exist.
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Diameter: 56 mm
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Weight: 118 g
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Signed: Bovet, Fleurier
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Prestige hallmarks
British hallmarks were sometimes faked or imitated, especially in the 18th and early 19th centuries, when English watchmaking enjoyed a reputation as the finest there was. Marks looking like British hallmarks, were put into watch cases to lead people to think that a watch was of English make. Sometimes, pseudo hallmarks, marks that were meant to look somewhat like hallmarks without trying to be out-and-out fake hallmarks, were stamped to make a case look more impressive.