Rare Swiss pocket watch with unusual crown wind Circa 1900

Silver open faced pocket watch by Paul Moser  
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A rare Swiss silver open faced gentleman’s pocket watch with unusual crown wind, circa 1900.
Polished case with a gold crown, hinge and shackle. Signed white enamel dial with radial Roman hours, outer minute divisions, sunk auxiliary seconds and blued spade hands. Decorated rhodium-plated bridge movement with a patented winding system, a pink gold train, gold screw compensation balance and counterpoised lever.
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Diameter: 49 mm
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Weight: 82 g
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Signed: Paul Moser
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The Compagnie des Montres Paul Moser was based in Biel, Switzerland and was active from around 1900 to around 1955. Paul Moser was a member of the city council of Biel. He was also a creditor in the bankruptcy of machine technician Carl Dubler and the well-known author Robert Walser who wrote ‘The Clerk’. Werner Moser was possibly his son and successor. In 1936 he was a community representative in the tax assessment commission.

The present watch has an unusual crown winding by Olivier Courvoisier from Neuchâtel. He received an English Patent No. 1114 in 1873. Also Patek Philippe and Ch. Hr. Grosclaude & Fils are known to have this crown winding watch. For Patek Philippe it was an experiment, only a few watches were made of which one was delivered to Prince Ghica of Albania on March 1st, 1884. Through this patented winding system the hands can be set by turning the crown counterclockwise. Turning the crown clockwise moves the large wheel and winds the watch.