French 18K yellow gold pocket watch with chain Circa 1850

Gold open faced cylinder watch
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A French 18 carat yellow gold open faced pocket watch made by Giteau in Paris, circa 1850. This watch has a mechanical movement with a cylinder escapement, signed by Giteau. The off centre silver dial on the guilloché front, with a winding square, features Roman numerals for the hours. The slender case has engine turned decoration and is numbered. The watch comes with a gold watch chain (chatelaine) and keys, weighing a total of 13.4 g.
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Diameter: 39 mm
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Weight: 43.3 g
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Signed: Giteau à Paris
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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 départements 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 Palais Royal, Galerie des Pierres No. 129. He later operated from Palais Royal No. 114 and then at 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.