Rare German 18k gold open faced pocket watch Circa 1870

Heavy gold graduate’s pocket watch
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A rare, heavy graduate’s open faced pocket watch, circa 1870. Made at the Grand Duke of Baden’s Clockmaker’s School in Furtwangen. 18-carat gold, polished case with engraved monogram HB, gold dome, and case maker’s punch mark TRP. Enamel dial with radial Roman hours, auxiliary seconds, and blued spade hands. Frosted gilt and signed 4/5 plate movement with screw compensation balance, very finely engraved balance cock, and counterpoised lever. Made by Grossherzoglich Badische Uhrmacherschule Furtwangen.
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Diameter: 57 mm
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Weight: 150 g
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Signed: Uhrmacherschule Furtwangen
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Grand Duke of Baden’s Clockmaker’s School in Furtwangen
In the year 1850, the government of the Grand Duchy of Baden decided to develop the so-called “poorhouse” of the High Black Forest and authorized the Engineer Robert Gerwig to establish the Grand Duke of Baden’s Clockmaker’s School in Furtwangen. Until now, the school continues to train watch- and clockmakers. In 1852 Robert Gerwig also started a clock and watch collection for teaching purposes. The collection, which was open to the public, was the foundation for the success of the “Deutsches Uhrenmuseum” (German watch and clock museum), which today is one of the most important German collections of timekeepers.
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Albert Metzger became supervisor of the newly established class for pocket watchmakers at the school. He introduced a pocket watch with a three-quarter plate (a Glashütte calibre), that used Glashütte as well as Swiss lever escapements. Glashütte case maker Karl Richter produced cases for some of the school watches in Furtwangen; Paul Glaeser in Glashütte supplied the school with wheels, pinions, hands and other parts. The school became nationally and internationally renowned for its reputation of excellence when mechanical engineer Heinrich Baumann took over its leadership in 1900 and held the position until 1922. Professor Bauman was an excellent technician who gained a widespread international reputation for his horological research activities.