Swiss centre seconds cylinder for the Chinese market Circa 1780

Gold, ruby and seed pearl-set cylinder watch by Pierre Jaquet Droz
–
A Swiss 18 carat gold, ruby and seed pearl-set open faced cylinder pocket watch with centre seconds made for the Chinese market, circa 1780. Retailed in London. Cylinder movement, pendant winding, diamond end-stone, cock, foot and plate pierced and engraved. White enamel dial Roman hours, outer minute divisions with Arabic 30 and 60. Movement signed. The case ruby and seed pearl-set, the back glazed.
–
Diameter: 50 mm
–
Signed: Jaquet Droz
–
This piece is particularly interesting due to the mechanism that winds the movement. The system works by depressing the pendant of the watch just as one would a repeating watch of this kind. A similar system is known to have been employed during the same period in English watches an example of which was sold at auction by the maker Viner & Co., and though it differed slightly there is a patent for this particular set-up dated as early as 1793. Additionally to this, beneath the bezel, the user is able to stop the centre seconds hand via a slide, thus allowing the timing of events, much like a chronograph. The design and decoration are typical for a watch made for the Chinese market, and the red glass back elevates the watch’s aesthetic allowing the user to enjoy the movement’s fine pierced and engraved cock, foot and plate. The use of this red glass is incredibly rare for this period and was very sought after in the Orient.
–
Pierre Jaquet Droz (1721-1790) was an outstanding watchmaker from Neuchâtel, Switzerland. His reputation was impeccable and he is credited for making the first singing bird boxes. His company specialized in making watches for the Far East and in order to reach the Chinese market, he opened an office in London in 1783 that facilitated the export to the Orient.