French 18K yellow gold open faced pocket watch Circa 1900

Gold open faced pocket watch
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A French 18 carat yellow gold open faced pocket watch made by G. Tribaudeau in Besançon, circa 1900. It has a mechanical movement with a cylinder escapement. The white enamel dial shows stylised Arabic numerals for the hours (1–12) and an inner ring of smaller red Arabic numerals for the 24 hour scale (13–24). There is a subsidiary seconds dial at the 6 o’clock position and blued steel hands. The dial is signed Trib. The 18 carat yellow gold case back is decorated with an unengraved, radiating cartouche within a floral and foliate frame. The case shows wear, including dents on the caseband, and has a fluted crown at 12 o’clock.
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Diameter: 47 mm
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Weight: 61 g
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Signed: Tribaudeau
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Tribaudeau (Besançon)
Tribaudeau was a notable watch manufacturing firm based in Besançon, the historical heart of the French watchmaking industry. Founded in the late 19th century, the company became well known for producing reliable, high quality pocket watches and later pioneered one of the first French mail order watch businesses. Tribaudeau’s location in Besançon allowed the firm to leverage the city’s vast network of skilled artisans and specialised component makers. Their timepieces from this era are recognised for their elegant “Belle Époque” designs and robust movements, often serving the growing middle class market of the early 20th century.