French silver watch with crucifixion scene of Jesus Circa 1880

Silver pocket watch with open face by Henri-Paul Ratel
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An extremely rare French pocket watch for Catholic priests, circa 1880, a present to a missionary of the African mission order. Silver case, on the reverse side a bold relief with the crucifixion scene of Jesus, engraved rosary on the edgings of the front and reverse side, numbered and signed silver dome, the band with banderole: VIGILATE QUIA NESCITIS DIEM NEQUE HORAM (Matthew 25,13: Watch, therefore, for ye know not the day nor the hour), richly engraved, trefoil-shaped pendant with the depiction of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Holy Ghost. Unique, signed enamel dial with Roman radial hours, 12-hour scopes with the descriptions of the Passion of the Christ, blued steel hands with castigation tools, church events that are assigned to special times, interesting hand movement with an additional golden hour hand, the moves at a constant interval of 2 hours before the actual time. Bridge movement, Cal. LeCoultre, frosted, gilt, blued screws, cylinder escapement, large three-arm brass balance, blued balance spring. Cuvette signed: Ratel, Horloger Bte. De NSP le Pape, 53 Rue Monsieur le Prince, Paris.
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Diameter:46 mm
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Weight: 80 g
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Signed: Ratel Paris
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Henri-Paul Ratel, French watchmaker, Horloger Bte. DE NSP LE PAPE a Paris.
Henri-Paul Ratel founded a watch and jewellery shop around 1820 in Paris at 53 rue Monsieur-le-Prince. He held the title Horloger Bté. DE NSP LE PAPE a Paris. According to a Ratel letterhead, Rue Monsieur-le-Prince Nt. 53 before 49, près de l’Odeon Faubourg Saint-Germain. The company was active until about 1900. The company won a silver medal at the World Exhibition of 1889 (Eiffel Tower).
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The clock shown
The elaborately designed case of this pocket watch has a relief depiction of Christ on the cross on the back. There is an engraved rosary on the edge of the front and back. The middle part of the case bears the banner: VIGILATE QUIA NESCITIS DIEM NEQUE HORAM (Matthew 25, 13: Be alert, for you know neither the day nor the hour). The pendant is trefoil-shaped and richly engraved with the depiction of the Virgin Mary and the Holy Spirit. The dial features 12-hour fields with descriptions of the Passion of Christ; the blued steel hands are in the shape of Christ’s flagellation tools.