German decorative diamond-set lady’s pocket watch Circa 1900

Gold, enamel, onyx and diamond-set half-hunter by Johannes Hartmann
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A decorative German diamond-set 18K gold, enamel and onyx half-hunting cased lady’s pocket watch, circa 1900.
Black enamelled case, the front with inlaid white enamel radial Roman hours, the back with an inset onyx plaque with an applied diamond-set monogram, maker’s mark B&P. Signed gold dome. White enamel dial with radial Roman hours and outer minute divisions, blued spade hands. Frosted gilt bridge movement, èbauche LeCoultre, wolf’s teeth winding wheels, gold screw compensation balance and counterpoised lever.
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Diameter: 34 mm
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Weight: 43 g
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Signed: Joh. Hartmann König-Hofuhrmacher Berlin U.d. Linden 49
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Johannes Hartmann (formerly D. Névir) watch factory and court watchmaker of their KK Majesties. He was considered one of the finest businesses in Berlin. This company was founded in 1856. The origins of the company go back to Georg Adolphe Névir, who ran a watch shop on October 1, 1763, in Berlin, Unter den Linden 48/49. Georg Adolphe Névir was a court watchmaker and supplier to Frederick the Great. After 40 years of development work, George Adolphe Nevir turned the business over in 1803 to his colleague B.F. Schunigk. Nevir himself had little luck with a brewery that was then acquired, as it was completely ruined by billeting during the Napoleonic wars in 1806 and 1807. He died in 1815 totally impoverished. After the second owner of the company, B.F. Schunigk, died, the son of the company’s founder, Dominique, was able to take over the watch business again, which was then located on the Friedrichstrasse. Dominique Névir sold the company to Johannes Hartmann in 1856. After another 16 years, Johannes Hartmann had to retire in 1872 because of an eye problem. From 1872 the new owner was called H.A. Markfeld. He was followed by Willi Hennings in 1901 and Heinrich Simon in 1924. His son Arthur Simon was able to celebrate the 175th anniversary of the company in 1938.