German 14K rose gold quarter repeating watch Circa 1877

Rose gold half hunting cased lever watch by Gustav Schulze
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A German historically interesting, very fine 14K rose gold half hunting cased quarter repeating pocket watch with a full calendar, initials of Ludwig II of Bavaria and matching 9K rose gold watch chain, circa 1877.
The case is finely chased with inlaid radial Roman numerals on the front, bearing the initials of King Ludwig II of Bavaria on the back, King Ludwig II was known as an enthusiastic builder of castles, a crown above the dark blue enamelled initials. White enamel dial with Roman numerals, subsidiary dials for the days of the week, date, months and constant seconds, blued steel hands. Bridge movement, lever escapement, two hammers, two gongs, gold screw compensation balance.
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Diameter: 55 mm
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Weight: 138 g
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Signed: Gustav Schulze J. Minuttis Nachfolger Hofuhrmacher Munich
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This timepiece is one of the king’s many pocket watches which he gifted members of his family, his friends and his civil servants during the time of his reign. The watch is listed in one of the Munich court cash ledgers for 1864-1886. All in all King Ludwig II bought over 200 pocket watches and nearly 100 long-case clocks to give away as presents or to use in one of his castles. Only a few of the pocket watches on record are technically complicated pieces, there are three watches with minute repeaters, five chronometers, a “seconde morte”, a chronograph and just one watch with a calendar, indicating that this must be the present piece. According to the records it was bought in 1877 for 460 Deutschmark by Gustav Schulze, who was maker to the court at the time. It is assumed that the ebauches for the pocket watches were imported from Switzerland and signed by the court makers in Munich after they had finished them. Most likely King Ludwig’s court employed seven watch- and clockmakers, Gustav Schulze is first mentioned in 1875. He succeeded Josef Minutti as maker to the court and had a shop at Ledererstraße 4.