Large Italian silver open faced keyless clock watch Circa 1927

Silver lever clock watch with eight day movement
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A fine and important Italian silver and base metal oversized open faced clock watch, made by Federico Tornotti in Torino and Roma, dated 29 October 1927. It features a mechanical crown winding three quarter plate movement with a lever escapement and an eight day power reserve, signed F.co Tornotti Torino-Roma and marked 8 Jours on the dial. The white enamel dial shows bold black Arabic numerals for the hours, a fine outer railway track, a subsidiary seconds dial at 6 o’clock, and blued steel hands. The presentation timepiece is housed in a substantial oversized round open faced base metall case with a plain polished reverse back cover meticulously engraved with a central skull resting on crossed bones and fencing foils. The edge is decorated with a detailed dedication inscription reading AL DUCE IN RICORDO DEL 22 AL 29 OTTOBRE 1917 / UN MOSCHETTIERE DEL DUCE.
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The watch is accompanied by its original fitted presentation desk case in red leather lined with burgundy velvet and silk, stamped F. TORNOTTI TORINO-ROMA in gold leaf. The protective desk lid is covered in finely chased sterling silver foil featuring a circular window to reveal the dial. It is engraved at the corners with a prominent letter M for Mussolini set within a laurel wreath, an eagle perched on a fasces, symbolic laurel branches, and the coat of arms of Rome inscribed SPQR. The sides are further engraved with fascist slogans reading NIENTE RITIRATA, NESSUN COMPROMESSO / FERMI E RISOLUTI! / AVANTI SEMPRE FINO ALLA RIVINCITA! alongside the historical date 29 October 1927.
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Diameter: 120 mm
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Weight: 68.8 g
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Signed: F.co Tornotti
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Federico Tornotti (often signed as F.co Tornotti) was a prominent late 19th and early 20th century Italian master watchmaker, jeweller, and luxury retailer who operated prestigious boutiques in both Torino and Roma. Catering to high society, aristocratic circles, and top tier military and political figures of the Kingdom of Italy, Tornotti was highly regarded for producing premium timepieces, ranging from solid gold pocket watches to high end mechanical desk clocks. Rather than manufacturing raw movements completely from scratch, his workshops specialized in sourcing exceptional, high grade Swiss ébauches (blank movements)—particularly long running mechanical 8 day (8 Jours) movements featuring multi plate layouts—which were then meticulously finished, cased, and adjusted to the highest standards. Tornotti was especially famous for creating complete luxury presentation sets, expertly housing oversized goliath style pocket watches within custom made fine leather travel structures and velvet lined desk cases fronted with intricately chased sterling silver display frames. Because of this stellar reputation for combining mechanical reliability with grand artistic metalwork, his dual city firm was frequently commissioned to craft highly important, uniquely decorated presentation timepieces and diplomatic gifts throughout the early decades of the twentieth century.