Swiss gold, diamonds watch for the Turkish market Circa 1890

Gold lever watch with black dial
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A very fine and rare yellow gold and diamond-set hunter cased keyless watch made for the turkish market, circa 1890. Manual winding jewelled nickel silver lever movement, cut bimetallic compensation balance, wolf’s teeth winding mechanism, pink gold wheels, hinged gold cuvette, black dial, gilt Turkish numerals, 18k yellow gold case fully set with rose-cut diamonds, small crown design to the centre of the front cover and to the winder, cuvette numbered.
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Diameter: 45 mm
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Signed: No Name
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The total diamond weights is approximately 11.58 carats.
The passion that the Ottoman sultans felt for timepieces was aroused in the 16th century when Western emissaries to the Ottoman court started to present timepieces to curry favor. Religion also played an important role in stimulating interest in watches: under the tenets of Islam, believers must pray five times a day at specific times. By the early 18th century, the Ottoman Empire’s upper class had developed a taste for European watches. Watchmakers from Geneva, London, Paris and Blois developed trade relations with the dignitaries of the Ottoman Empire. The watchmakers decorated the watches according to local tastes and the Turkish watches are easily recognizable by the rich enameling, arabesque pattern or Turkish numeral indexes on the dial. Bearing testimony to the longstanding culture and history, the extraordinary style of the watches has become unique treasures for watch connoisseurs. The present watch is of particular note for its unusual and striking black dial and elaborate diamond-setting.