Very fine and rare French open faced lever watch Circa 1890

Rare silver lever by Charles Jospeh
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A very fine and rare French open faced pocket watch, circa 1890. Gold plated, frosted bridge movement, gold screwed compensation balance, patented adjustment (‘Déposé 1884’), wolf toothed mechanism, moustache lever. White enamel dial, Roman numerals and blued steel spade hands. Plain silver case with rose gold mountings. Dial signed.
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Diameter: 58 mm
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Weight: 141 g
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Signed: CH. JOSEPH HOR DE L’OBSERVATOIRE DE PARIS
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Charles Joseph used a movement from the well-known Vacheron & Constantin series ‘Chronometer Royal’, which he further refined.
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Charles Joseph (1852-1935) was a watchmaker at the Observatories of Paris and Meudon, very few of his watches have survived.
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Literature: Tardy, Dictionnaire des horlogers Français.