Swiss 18K gold quarter repeater with visible movement Circa 1815

Gold open faced cylinder pocket watch
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A very fine, large and thin Swiss 18K gold open faced quarter repeating cylinder pocket watch with visible movement, circa 1815. A polished case, concave bezel, concealed hinge. Spring-loaded gilt metal cuvette. Annular white enamel dial, Breguet numerals, outer minute divisions, the centre with aperture exposing the movement and blued steel skeletonized hands. A frosted gilt full plate movement, cylinder escapement, three-arm brass balance, flat balance spring, index regulator, polished steel bridge, repeating on gongs activated by depressing the pendant, polished steel repeating work on the backplate. Dial and cuvette signed.
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Diameter: 60 mm
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Signed: Robert & Courvoisier La Chaux de Fonds
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The former property of a Swiss gentleman.
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Robert & Courvoisier are clock and watchmakers from La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. The firm was founded in 1795 as a successor to J. Robert & Fils, Courvoisier. In 1770 the firm was originally established by Josué Robert (1691–1771). After Robert’s death, a year after the company was founded, the firm was renamed Josué Robert & Fils and was led by his son Louis Benjamin Robert (1732–1781). They mainly produced large clockworks, but as Benjamin’s son-in-law, Louis Courvoisier became a companion, pocket watches were put into production. When Louis Benjamin died, Louis Courvoisier became the manager of the firm. From 1787 to 1795 the firm was called J. Robert & Fils, Courvoisier. From 1795 to 1805 it was renamed Robert & Courvoisier. Since 1805 the firm’s name was Robert, Courvoisier & Cie with Philip Grandjean as a business partner. In 1852 it became Courvoisier Frères. The firm continued under the direction of various members of the Courvoisier family until the 1930s. Along with the Jaquet-Droz firm, they were the most important makers of musical clocks and around the turn of the 18^th and 19^th centuries, their portable officers’ watches were famous.