French gold novelty watch in the form of a roulette wheel Circa 1937

Rare open faced roulette form pocket watch by Cartier
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A French gold novelty pocket watch in the form of a double sided roulette wheel, circa 1937. This rare watch features an unsigned Swiss damascened nickel cal. 23.7 movement with lever escapement and bimetallic compensation balance. It has a pink satin finished dial with baton and square numerals that cut through to reveal the polished white metal plate mounted beneath, signed Cartier, France.
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The gold inner case fits into a roulette wheel outer case equipped with integrated ball bearings, while the back displays alternating red and black enamel numerals for roulette à la boule indications, appearing twice from 1 to 9. The centre of the case back is adorned with a broad engine turned arrowhead for indication. The front bezel boasts roulette numbering on white gold roundels, alternating in red and black enamel, with a small pointer engraved on the inner bezel above the crown to indicate the roulette number. The inside case back is numbered 8625 & 1, the inner watch bezel bears the number 1 beneath the crown, and both the case back and inner bezel are stamped EK for Encausse & Krasker, along with French gold marks. The outer roulette wheel also displays French gold marks, is numbered along the edge 08334 & 8625, and is engraved Modèle Déposé.
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Diameter: 41 mm
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Signed: Cartier France
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Movement running. The hands set smoothly, but the mechanism tends to slip out of the hand setting position, which may indicate that the set lever spring requires repair or attention. The dial has some light marks and scratches. The case is generally in good order, with minor losses to the enamel of the roulette numerals. The roulette action functions well, though there are light scuffs and scratches.
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The case for this unusual novelty watch was created for Cartier by Encausse and Krasker. A similar watch is illustrated and described in The Cartier Collection, Timepieces, Flammarion.
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Incorporating two types of roulette, the back of the watch is calibrated for roulette à la boule, while the front features a standard roulette format.