French 18K gold coquille form lever pocket watch Circa 1950

Small gold watch by Maurice Worms
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A small French 18 carat yellow gold shell form lever pocket watch, circa 1950. This watch features a Coquille form case in yellow gold, engraved and accented by a twist, with a diamond and a white gold pushbutton that, when pressed, reveals a round tilting case. The bezel is engraved with Roman numerals and indexed bâtions, and the muted gilded dial. It has a mechanical movement with lever escapement. The case is signed Ets WORMS Paris and bears the hallmark of Maurice WORMS. The movement is signed Universal Genève.
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Size of the case: 34 x 32 mm.
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Diameter: 15mm.
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Weight: 26,9 g
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Signed: Ets WORMS Paris
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Maurice Worms, a watchmaker and jeweller based in Paris, registered this model in 1954 (No. 50333). The popularity of cultured pearls in the 1950s, which saw significant commercial growth, likely influenced the unique design of this pocket watch. The case resembles a pearl nestled between two shells, much like a pearl is found within its oyster. It’s possible that Worms produced this watch for other jewellery houses, such as Tiffany & Co.