Rare Swiss gold quarter repeating musical pocket watch Circa 1820

Gold watch with funny serpentine hands
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A rare Swiss 18 carat gold quarter repeating musical watch with music playing on the hour or at will, circa 1820. An Empire case, engine turned with polished borders, reeded band, bolt at 2 o’clock to lock the repeat and at 6 for the music. Hinged gilt brass cuvette with apertures for winding and hand setting. Gold, engine turned dial, radial Roman numerals on brushed reserves, outer minute divisions and blued steel serpentine hands. Gilt brass movement, two train with standing barrel for the going train, cylinder escapement, plain three arm balance, flat balance spring, polished steel endplate, index regulator, repeating on gongs activated by depressing the pendant. Sur plateau musical movement with 29 tuned steel vibrating blades acting on both sides of the pinned disc, music/silence lever at the edge of the cuvette beneath the back cover. Movement punched PM in a lozenge on the dial plate for Piguet & Meylan, case and movement numbered.
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Diameter: 56 mm
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Thickness: 17 mm
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Signed: Piguet & Meylan  Swiss
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A rare example of this type of musical watch with Piguet & Meylan’s punch mark on the dial plate confirms its manufacture by this most illustrious of makers. In excellent overall condition with a crisp case saving a few tiny dents on the band, an attractive gold dial with beautiful serpentine hands and movement playing a pretty and clear tune.
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Piguet & Meylan were both originally from the village of Le Chenit in the Vallée de Joux, Isaac Daniel Piguet (1775-1841) and Philippe Samuel Meylan (1772- 1845) came to Geneva as young men and formed a partnership that lasted from 1811 to 1828. The company specialized in elaborate and beautifully decorated musical watches, including skeleton and automaton watches and mechanical animals. They employed some of the best enamel painters to decorate their watches.
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The company further are particularly known for their watches made for the Chinese Market. Examples of their work are in many of the world’s foremost collections including the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Musée d’Horlogerie in Le Locle. The firm was established at 45, Rue Jean Jacques Rousseau in Geneva. After their association came to an end both Piguet and Meylan continued for some time to work with their sons.