Fine lady’s Swiss yellow gold and enamel watch Circa 1914

Fine lady’s yellow gold and enamel open faced watch
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A fine lady’s Swiss yellow gold and enamel open faced watch, circa 1914, manual winding nickel lever movement, cut bimetallic compensation balance, 16 jewels, 18k yellow gold engraved cuvette.
Silvered dial, Breguet numerals, outer minute track, engine-turned centre.
18k Yellow gold case, very fine polychrome enamel depicting summer flowers, front bezel similarly decorated, case, dial, cuvette and movement signed.
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Diameter: 27 mm
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Signed: Vacheron Constantin Geneve Suisse
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The company was founded in 1755 by Jean-Marc Vacheron, an independent watchmaker in Geneva, Switzerland. In 1770, his company created the first complication, and nine years later he designed the first engine-turned dials.The son of Jean-Marc Vacheron, Abraham, took over the family business in 1785. During this period, the company was able to survive the French Revolution (1789–1799). Later, in 1810, Jacques-Barthélemy Vacheron, the grandson of the founder, became the head of the company. He was the first to initiate the company’s exports to France and Italy. Later, Jacques-Barthélemy realized that he was not able to handle his business alone. In order to travel overseas and sell the company’s products, he needed a partner. Consequently, in 1819 François Constantin became an associate of Vacheron. The company continued its activity under the name Vacheron and Constantin. François Constantin traveled around the world and marketed watches. Thus he helped the company to open new markets. The main market was North America. The company’s motto (which remains today), “Do better if possible and that is always possible,” first appeared in Constantin’s letter to Jacques-Barthélémy.