French minute repeating pocket watch for baron de Rothschild Circa 1925

Important large and heavy square pocket watch with unusual repeat slide
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A very fine and important large and heavy square minute repeating keyless pocket watch with an enamel dial and unusual repeat slide. Accompanied by a period Cartier box and made for Baron Henri de Rothschild by Cartier Paris ‘Carré aux Angles Arrondis’ Circa 1925.  Two body square case with rounded corners, polished, secured by two screws in the band, rounded bezel, triangular bow and the back cover with blue enamel monogram for Henri de Rothschild.
White enamel dial with radial Roman numerals, inner minute track and blued steel spade hands. Rhodium-plated movement with Geneva striping decoration, 31 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance, blued steel flat balance spring, index regulator and repeating on gongs activated by an unusual pullout lever in the band.
Dial signed, case numbered and punched EJ in a lozenge for Edmond Jaeger.
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Dimensions: 45 x 45 mm
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Signed: CARTIER, PARIS
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Large, impressive and heavy, the present watch is also fitted with a hard enamel white dial instead of the more usual painted dial. The lever used to activate the repeating mechanism is also highly unusual amongst Cartier’s repeating watches and is reminiscent of the lever the company used for the release mechanism of the ‘Autel’ triptych clocks. These two special features combined with the large size and noble provenance raise this watch into the pantheon of Cartier’s exceptional timepieces of the early 20^th century.