Rare Swiss white gold open faced keyless pocket watch Circa 1918

White gold open faced pocket watch by Gübelin 
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A fine, rare, manual wind, white gold open-faced Swiss pocket watch, circa 1918.
White gold case, on the back a cartouche with applied initials. Silver dial with Arabic radial numerals, outer minutes track, subsidiary dial for the seconds, and Breguet hands. Bridge movement, two hammers / two gongs, screw compensation balance. Case, dial and movement signed.
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Diameter: 47 mm
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Signed: Gübelin Lucerne
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GÜBELIN AG, Swiss watch manufacture
In 1854, Jakob Josef Maurice Breitschmied opened a watchmaker’s shop in Lucerne’s Pfistergasse. One of his apprentices is Eduard Jakob Gübelin. Gübelin falls in love with Bertha Breitschmied, his master’s daughter. In 1886, the two entered into marriage. Their son, Eduard Moritz, sees the light of day the following year.
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Gübelin, Eduard Jakob
In 1899, Eduard Jakob Gübelin took over his father-in-law’s business and continued to work consistently to expand the family business. In 1903 he opened the premises of the new sale in the former Hotel Englischhof.
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Gübelin, Eduard Moritz
In 1912, Eduard Jakob’s son, Eduard Moritz, married Maria Schriber, a captain’s daughter. In 1919, he took over the company’s management from his father and expanded it in 1923 to become a jewellery business with his creations and a gemological laboratory.