Swiss gold duplex made for the Chinese market Circa 1860

Gold and enamel centre seconds duplex
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A rare Swiss gold and enamel open-faced duplex pocket watch made for the Chinese market, circa 1860. Keywind Tixier calibre movement with gilt champlevé blue and white enamel cock, bridges and suspended going barrel, silvered engine-turned plate, garnet endstone in a gold engraved setting, polished steel regulator, blue steel stop work and screws, polished steel three-arm balance with three blue steel affixes, spiral hairspring, steel crab tooth duplex escape wheel allowing the hand to appear to beat seconds. White enamel dial with Roman numerals, centre seconds and blue steel hands. Plain case, gold oval pendant and bow, button to release the back cover. Glazed gilt sprung cuvette with apertures for winding and handset.
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Diameter: 56 mm
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Signed: No name
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A rare example in excellent condition. In 1858, a Genevan craftsman called Pelaz, living in Fleurier, introduced enamelled bridges adapted for the Tixier calibre of the Chinese Market movement. They created enormous interest, but very few were made due to the delicacy of the pieces and the fact that the temperatures involved in the enamelling process sometimes caused the bridges to distort, which affected the going of the movements.