French platinum and enamel lever pendant watch Circa 1910

Platinum, enamel and diamond-set revolving pendant watch 
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An ornamental French platinum and diamond-set pendant watch with enamel medallion, circa 1910. It has a rhodium-plated octagonal movement, Geneva striping decoration, and screw compensation balance. The central revolving octagonal case is surrounded by delicate openwork filigree studded with diamonds. The rear features a polychrome enamel pastoral scene signed Bosco and comes with a chain. The signed silvered dial has Roman hours, auxiliary seconds, and spade hands.
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Dimensions: 48 x 33 mm
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Weight: 23 g
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Signed: Van Cleef & Arpels
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Van Cleef & Arpels is a French company that makes jewellery, watches, and perfume. It was founded in 1906 by Alfred van Cleef and his brother-in-law Charles Arpels. Alfred Van Cleef married Estelle Arpels in 1895. Estelle’s father was Léon Salomon Arpels, who was also Alfred’s uncle. The company Alfred Van Cleef & Salomon Arpels Sarl existed before, but Salomon died in 1903. Then a new company was formed with Alfred and Charles. Two years after it was founded, Estelle’s brother Julien Arpels joined. In 1912, her youngest brother, Louis Léon Arpels, joined the company. From the start, the company was at Place Vendôme 22, Paris. In 1926, Renée Rachel Puissant-van Cleef, daughter of Alfred and Estelle, became a partner. After Alfred’s death in 1938, she took over the company line. Renée Rachel died in Vichy on December 12, 1942. During the war, the company was confiscated as Jewish property under the “General Commissioner for Jewish Issues” in Vichy. After the war, the shares were given to the descendants of Salomon Arpels.
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Van Cleef & Arpels is known for its expertise with precious stones and elaborate, often unusual jewellery decorated with flowers, animals, and elves. Their jewellery has been worn by style icons such as the Duchess of Windsor, Grace Kelly, and Elizabeth Taylor. The company is especially known for its newly developed stone setting technique called the “mystery setting”. Today, it is closely associated with Cartier and has been part of Compagnie Financière Richemont SA since 1999.