Swiss repeating verge with Jacquemarts automaton Circa 1820

Gold open faced pocket watch
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An attractive Swiss 18 carat gold, enamel and half pearl set quarter repeating pocket watch with automaton and three Jacquemarts, circa 1820. Full plate movement, keywound, two hammers, two gongs, three armed brass balance. White enamel chapter ring with Roman numerals, the top half of the two part gold Jaquemarts á trois couleurs shows an opening in the form of a balcony with automaton, a knight strikes on a bell, the lower half shows two putti in front of a temple, striking a bell. Case to the back decorated with a petal shaped medallion with translucent cobalt blue enamel over engine turned ground framed by a small border of opaque white and light blue enamel with engraved gold ornaments, the bezels to both sides set with split pearls .
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Diameter: 59 mm
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Weight: 152 g
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Signed: No Name
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The automaton Jacks on the dial refer to the Medieval way of public time announcing which was by real people striking every hour on a bell situated at the top of the city tower. Later, life size robots, called Jacquemarts or Jacks, amused the people by striking bells in large public clocks, of which, probably the most famous is the one in Venice at Piaza San Marco and the oldest (1383) in the tower of Dijon.