Very fine and rare German gold full hunter à goutte Circa 1890

Gold hunting cased lever by George Wessel
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A very fine and rare German 18 carat gold hunting cased à goutte pocket watch, circa 1890. Precision anchor mechanism with 2/3 plate, grained and gold plated, lever escapement and golden wheels. White enamel dial with blued steel hands. Plain, massive case with engraved monogram ‘MW’ to the back. Cuvette signed.
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Diameter: 52 mm
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Weight: 116 g
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Signed: Georg Wessel J.H. Martens Nachf. Freiburg (Baden)
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Jess Hans Martens was born in 1826 in the Duchy of Schleswig. He completed a watchmaker apprenticeship. During the German-Danish war (Schleswig-Holstein War) 1848-1851 he met Moritz Grossmann, who fought in the Saxons. After his military service he went on a hike, which also took him to Switzerland to La Chaux-de-Fonds. In 1858 his book ‘Inhibitions of Higher Art of Watchmaking’ appeared. In 1857, a contract for employment in Furtwangen came on his path and he became the first teacher in the pocket watchmaking school. In the following years, Martens won numerous awards and medals at international exhibitions. In 1864 the school in Furtwangen was closed. In 1867 Martens opened a shop and a factory for the manufacture and sale of pocket watches in nearby Freiburg, Baden. He introduced a new lift mechanism, opened a teaching institute for watchmakers and continued to win many awards. In 1883 he handed over the business to his successor Georg Wessel. In 1891, Martens published his second book on chronometer inhibitions. One year later, at the age of 66, Jess Hans Martens died in Freiburg.
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Literature: Dr. Sauerborn, Jess Hans Martens 1826-1892, First teacher of the pocket watchmaking school in Furtwangen – apprentice workshop for watchmakers in Freiburg, Baden.