French 18K gold watch made for the Mexican market Circa 1910

Gold lever watch with special dial
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A unique knife edge watch with an extravagant special dial, La Esmeralda, made in France for the noble jeweller Hauser Zivy & Cie in Mexico, circa 1910. The extremely thin but solid open faced plain case has a, typical Cartier form, knife edge shape. The unique silver dial is engine turned with a rainbow like surface refinement, whereby, depending on the light incidence, the colour changes from green to rose tones, Arabic hour numerals, an outer minute track, a decentral portrait of a lady with a hat, the image of a Mexican woman, subsidiary seconds at 6 o’clock and blued Breguet hands. The gilt movement has an extra flat precision lever escapement in top quality. Dial signed.
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Diameter: 49 mm
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Weight: 57 g
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Signed: La Esmeralda
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Although not signed by Cartier, this watch is in all parts a typical Cartier watch. Presumably only due to the fact that it bears the brand name ‘La Esmeralda’ of the Mexican luxury jeweller Hauser Zivy & Cie. and its very unique special dial, it is not additionally signed by Cartier. The company, based in Mexico City, sold the best European brands such as Cartier, Breguet and Vacheron & Constantin and was one of the top ten jewellers in the world around 1900. Along with Boucheron, Mauboussin, Tiffany, La Cloche, Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels and Gübelin.
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Hauser Zivy & Cie.
Hauser Zivy & Cie. was one of the most prominent jewelry and watch retailers in Mexico City in the latter half of the 19^th century. Mr. Hauser and Mr. Zivy opened boutiques in both Paris and Mexico and sold high quality musical boxes and works of art along with their other luxury items. Their prominence grew from a myriad of relationships, including with the glass manufacturer, Baccarat. Girard-Perregaux named its one of a kind chronometer watch with pivoted detent and tourbillon escapement and iconic three bridges ‘La Esmeralda,’ after the Mexico City atelier. Their building is still a historical landmark in Mexico City today as an example of European influence on early 19^th century Mexican architecture.
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Cartier
Cartier was founded by Louis-François Cartier. He was born in 1810. In 1847, Louis-François was able to take over the jewellery shop of his teacher Adolphe Picard at 31 Rue de Montreuil, Paris. It is a French jewellery house specializing in making very luxurious jewellery such as rings, bracelets, earrings, necklaces and watches.