French 18 carat pink gold open faced pocket watch Circa 1850

Gold pocket watch by Pierre Giteau
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A French 18 carat pink gold open faced cylinder pocket watch, circa 1850. The watch is powered by a mechanical movement with cylinder escapement and key winding (key supplied). The silver guilloché dial features an offset chapter ring with Roman hour numerals, railway style minute divisions, and elegant Breguet style hands. The 18 carat pink gold guilloché case is fitted with a brass dust cover and signed GITEAU, élève de Breguet, Palais Royal n°140.
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Diameter: 47 mm
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Weight: 53 g
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Signed: GITEAU
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Pierre Giteau – French Watchmaker in Paris
Pierre Giteau, an apprentice (élève) of the legendary Abraham-Louis Breguet, worked as a watchmaker in Paris from around 1811 to 1870. He was appointed Horloger breveté du Roi (Watchmaker to the King) and was renowned for both his small and large clocks. Giteau signed his timepieces Giteau, Élève de Breguet, a mark that remains highly sought after by collectors.
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In the 1811 Almanach du commerce de Paris, des départemens de l’empire français et des principales Villes du Monde, Giteau is recorded at 5 Rue St. Nicaise. By 1816, according to the Almanach des 25,000 adresses de Paris, he was based at the Palais Royal, Galerie des Pierres No. 129. He later operated from Palais Royal No. 114, and subsequently at the Galerie de Valois, Nos. 140 and 2498.
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Among his known works are pocket watches, often fitted with fine cylinder or lever movements, and larger clocks of notable craftsmanship. One example, signed Giteau, Élève de Breguet, bears Movement No. 15845 and Case No. 3013, dated circa 1890—presumably retailed by a successor to Giteau.
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An unusual episode in his life was reported in the Paris newspaper Gazette des Tribunaux on January 21 and 22, 1839: a valuable gold watch belonging to Giteau was stolen and later recovered in a house of prostitution. The thief, Louise-Augustine Radiguet, was arrested by Police Commissioner Marrigues.