French 18K yellow gold open faced pocket watch Circa 1850

Gold open faced cylinder watch
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A fine French 18 carat yellow gold open faced pocket watch made by Gorini Frères in Poitiers, circa 1850. It has a mechanical keywound movement with a cylinder escapement and an advanced regulator index engraved with Avance and Retard indicators. The round white enamel dial shows black Roman numerals for the hours, an outer railway minute track with red Arabic five minute numerals, a subsidiary seconds dial at 6 o’clock (hand is missing), and gold Louis XV style hands. The timepiece is housed in an 18 carat solid yellow gold open faced case with an intricately engraved case back featuring scrolling foliate and floral motifs, a polished hinged cuvette signed Gorini Frères Poitiers, and a sturdy round suspension bow.
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Diameter: 50 mm
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Weight: 86.4 g
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Signed: Gorini Frères à Poitiers
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Established in 1807 on the historic Place d’Armes in Poitiers, Gorini Frères built an esteemed reputation throughout the 19th century as a premier French retailer and maker of fine pocket watches, jewelry, and silverware. Operating from a prominent boutique that remained a local landmark into the early 20th century, the firm was celebrated for offering exceptional timepieces blending precise mechanical engineering with luxurious artistic finishes. Their watches often featured high grade movements sourced from expert contemporary watchmakers and were housed in elaborately engraved precious metal cases tailored for an elite clientele.