Large Swiss gold quarter repeating automaton watch Circa 1880

Gold gentlemen’s repeating automaton watch
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A Swiss gold hunting cased keyless lever watch with automaton complication and pull action hour and quarter chimes made by Rueff Frères, circa 1880. This watch features a gold case with an engine turned back and a front bowl adorned with a prominent monogram. The white enamel dial (noted for accidents and missing parts) displays Roman numerals for the hours, Arabic numerals for the minutes, and it is centred with a polychrome enamel automaton decoration. It includes a small seconds subdial at six o’clock and Louis XV style hands. The watch is powered by a mechanical movement with a Swiss lever escapement.
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Diameter: 75 mm
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Weight: 130 g
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Signed: RUEFF Frères
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Rueff Brothers, Swiss watchmaking
Watchmaking in La Chaux-de-Fonds; the company was already operating in 1885. In 1897, it was renamed Maurice Rueff, Successeur de Rueff Frères. Its most important brand name was Baltic, which was listed by Schwarz-Etienne SA in 1966. The brand name Lenox was registered in the same year as a watch brand of the Fritz Wichtermann company in Zurich.
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The companies Rueff Frères and Maurice Rueff registered numerous brand names and models.