English gold and enamel open faced ladies’ watch Circa 1910

Gold open faced mechanical lever watch
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A fine English 18 carat yellow gold open faced ladies’ pendant watch made by Asprey and Co in London, circa 1910. It has a mechanical manual wind movement with a lever escapement. The cream guilloché dial features bold black Roman numerals for the hours, an outer railway minute track, and blued steel spade hands. The timepiece is housed in a dainty 18 carat yellow gold open faced case measuring 27 mm, with a matching tapered suspension loop. The front bezel and winding crown are accented with translucent light blue guilloché enamel and bordered by a delicate row of rose cut diamonds. The back cover is enhanced with a vibrant sunburst guilloché blue enamel ground, adorned with a magnificent openwork platinum floral overlay lavishly set with rose cut diamonds. It comes with its original signed Asprey fitted presentation box.
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Diameter: 27 mm
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Signed: Asprey
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Asprey & Co, founded in London in 1781, is one of the oldest and most prestigious British luxury brands. It symbolises top quality in jewellery, silverware, leather goods, and timepieces, especially for royalty and the elite. Founded by William Asprey, a descendant of French Huguenots, the company began as a silk printing factory. In 1847, it opened the iconic flagship store at 167 New Bond Street, which remains its current location. Through acquisitions such as Leuchars & Son in 1888, Asprey gained a team of master goldsmiths and silversmiths, enabling the creation of bespoke objects, including the ladies’ pocket watch in blue guilloché enamel. In 1862, Asprey received its first Royal Warrant from Queen Victoria and retained this hallmark for every monarch, making the store a meeting place for heads of state and aristocrats around 1910.
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Asprey does not produce mechanical movements itself but purchases high quality movements from Swiss and English manufacturers and builds them into luxury cases of gold, platinum, enamel, and diamonds. Later, the shop became a distributor for brands such as Patek Philippe, Jaeger-LeCoultre, and Rolex, featuring watches with a double signature.
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The Asprey ladies’ pocket watch is an exclusive, artistic fashion accessory for the highest social class.