Swiss yellow gold minute repeating pocket watch Circa 1919

Gold open faced lever pocket watch
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A fine and rare Swiss 18 carat yellow gold open faced minute repeating keyless lever pocket watch, circa 1919. A polished case, semi-concealed hinge. Hinged gold cuvette with dedication. Matte champagne-coloured dial with black bold Arabic numerals, outer minute track, subsidiary seconds at 6 o’clock and blued steel Breguet hands. A rhodium-plated movement, Geneva striping decoration, 25 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance with five adjustments, blued steel Breguet balance spring, swan-neck micrometre regulator, repeating on gongs activated by a slide on the band. Dial and movement signed Touchon & Co, case signed Wittnauer & Co Switzerland.
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Diameter: 45 mm
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Signed: Touchon & Co Swiss
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The movement plating slightly deteriorates, and the dial is patinated.
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Touchon & Co. A watch manufacturer that was first established in Sécheron, later in Petit-Saconnex (districts of Geneva) and subsequently at 1, Place de la Fusterie. The trademark was registered on February 2, 1907, under No. 21652. The manufacturer, which produced high-quality watches, merged with Agassiz Watch Co. S.A., to launch extra slim watches on the market of 16 1/2″‘- 17/12th, 15/12th, 10/12th and even 10″‘- 10/12th. This latter movement, fitted in its case, could be concealed into a 20-dollar coin and was awarded the Gold Medal at the Paris Exhibition in 1889 and, in 1910, received the highest distinction in Brussels. The company produced these watches for Tiffany. In 1921, Touchon entered into a partnership with Wittnauer, under the new company name of Wittnauer & Cie, for the production of watches and spare parts, and moved premises to 4, Rue du Mont-Blanc until 1924.