English 18K gold hunting cased watch with portrait Circa 1860

Gold decorative English lever watch
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An English 18 carat gold hunting cased keyless wind pocket watch made by Charles Ignaz Klaftenberger in London, circa 1860-1861. Gilt ¾ plate movement with an English lever escapement, cut and compensated bimetallic balance and screwed chatons. White enamel dial with Roman hour numerals, an outer minute track, subsidiary seconds at 6 o’clock and blued steel spade hands. The engine turned, hinged case with a full-length polychrome enamel portrait on the front and a presentation inscription on the inner back. Movement signed and numbered.
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Diameter: 49 mm
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Signed: Klaftenberger To The Queen 157, Regent Street, London
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Charles Ignaz Klaftenberger, born in 1802, was an English clock and watchmaker with a workshop at 157, Regent Street in London.
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In 1835, he founded the company Aubert & Klaftenberger together with D.F. Aubert. The company delivered complicated watches and clocks of high quality. They sold pocket watches by Aubert, Milleret and Louis Audemars as well as travel clocks by Manufacture Drocourt under their own name. Their range also included pieces such as Vienna lantern clocks, table clocks and French pendulum clocks.
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Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were customers of Aubert & Klaftenberger, and they were soon awarded the title of Watchmakers to the Queen & H.R.H. Prince Albert. In 1851, the company won an award at the World Exhibition in London. In addition to their London premises Aubert & Klaftenberger had branches in Geneva, Vienna and Paris.
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Klaftenberger was an extremely gifted maker and held the title of Vice President of the British Horological Institute, BHI. He died on September 19th, 1874 in London. His son August Alexander succeeded him in the business.