Chinese clock watch in leather and shagreen case Circa 1736-95

Unsigned double-cased watch with champlevé dial
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A Chinese gilded brass verge pocket watch in leather and shagreen cases with champlevé dial, circa 1736-1795.
This exquisite timepiece is a true masterpiece of craftsmanship. The gilded brass and partly blued steel full plate movement is adorned with intricate floral decorations. The repeating mechanism, chain/fusee, and baluster-shaped movement pillars are all testaments to the precision and ingenuity that went into creating this watch. The dial is equally impressive, made of gilded brass champlevé and featuring inlaid Roman radial hours, half-hour markers, and an outer minutes track with Arabic five-minute numerals. The steel decorative hands are the perfect finishing touch to this stunning piece. The watch has two partly gilded brass cases, with an inner case made of shagreen and an outer case covered in leather. The inscription on the tablet on the face reads Made in the Qianlong years in Chinese characters, adding to the watch’s historical significance.
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Diameter: 71 mm
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Unsigned
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Although this watch appears to be of European origin, its inscription states that it was made during the Qianlong era in China, which spanned from 1736 to 1795. This particular timepiece is an example of the widespread interest in European watchmaking that existed in China during that period.