French important minute repeating lever watch Circa 1918

Gold presentation watch
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A French historically important, very fine and thin 18 Carat gold minute repeating lever pocket watch with concealed dial and shutter mechanism, circa 1918. This unique and historic timepiece was made by Cartier as a gift to the Russian Imperial court at the time of Tsar Nicolaus II. Comes with an Extract from the Archives and the original red leather presentation box with an embossed Russian double headed eagle. Polished case, on the front a concealed dial opening by two glazed shutters, decorated with a blue enamelled monogram OHC for Otis H. Cutler, beneath an engraved presentation monogram from H.P.D. for Henry Pomeroy Davison, engraved date 1919 below the pendant, the back decorated with a translucent red enamel cross on a white ground, sunk slide for repeating mechanism, push back. Silver engine turned and signed dial with Roman numerals. Bridge movement, lever escapement, two hammers, two gongs, gold screw compensation balance.
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Diameter: 47 mm
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Weight: 66 g
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Signed: Cartier Paris
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From the archives of Cartier, we know that the watch was originally ordered by a Belgian, probably as a gift for a member of the Russian Imperial family, and even before the tragedy of 17 July 1918, in which Tsar Nicolaus II and the entire Imperial family were executed. The Imperial family was involved in the Russian Red Cross, which is obvious from the order of the famous “Red Cross Egg” by Fabergé in 1915 with portraits of the Empress Alexandra Feodorovna and her two eldest daughters (now in the Lillian Thomas Pratt Collection of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts).
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Due to the circumstances of the Russian Revolution, the timepiece was never delivered and remained in the stock of Cartier. From the archives of Cartier, we learned that the blue enamel initials “OHC” were added to the watch on request of the final purchaser, Mr Henry Pomeroy Davison on 13 May 1919. Henry Pomeroy Davison was a well-known figure in the high financial world, he was a partner at JP Morgan Bank in New York and president of the American Red Cross. As President of the Red Cross, he was involved in a mission to Russia in 1917 and travelled to France in the spring of 1919, where he bought the Cartier timepiece and requested to put the initials of his main employee and right hand man, Mr Otis H. Cutler to whom the watch was presented.