Exquisite American gold and enamel cabriolet watch Circa 1850

Gold and enamel verge watch by Bigelow Brothers, Kennard & Co
–
An exquisite, thin American 18K gold and enamel pair-cased Lépine cabriolet pocket watch, circa 1850.
The cases with polychrome enamelled alpine landscape scenes, surrounded by a translucent blue enamel rim, the borders are white enamel with gold decoration, engraved pendant and bow. The gilded dial delicately engraved in the centre depicting a South Tyrolean landscape with a castle, castle ruin and vineyard, Roman hours and outer minute dots, subsidiary seconds at 6 o’clock, spade hands. Bridge movement, verge escapement, screw compensation balance.
–
Diameter: 42 mm
–
Weight: 62 g
–
Signed: Bigelow Bros & Kennard Boston
–
A pair-cased cabriolet watch. The cases of this type of watch are made in such a way that the inner case can be turned into the outer case so that the watch can be used either as an open faced or as a hunting cased watch. The purpose of the reversible case is to protect the glass and the dial from impact when wearing the watch, for ladies tied to a chain around the neck, for men in the pocket, especially during intense or vigorous activities.
–
A Lépine watch is an open faced watch with a movement with the arbour of the fourth wheel in line with the projected axis of the stem. A movement layout where the small seconds are at 6 o’clock and the pendant or crown at 12.
–
The case manufactory was also used by Patek Philippe during their early years.