Swiss 14 carat gold full hunter cased watch with repeater Circa 1900

Very large gold watch with chronograph
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A very large gold full hunter cased watch with repeater and chronograph, made by Audemars frères in Genève, Switzerland, circa 1900. This high quality watch has a case with three lids, which are all crafted from 14 carat gold, the spring – and back lid are engine turned and the cuvette has a recognition grated by the emperor of Austria, is engraved with the medals obtained and is marked “Médailles obtenues par l’ancienne Maison Audemars fondée en 1811” (Medals obtained by the former Maison Audemars, founded in 1811). The white stepped enamel dial features a chronograph scale on the outer edge with a black hand, Arabic hour numerals, a subsidiary seconds dial with a black hand at 6 o’clock and gold hands. The glazed movement has a precision lever escapement, a quarter repeater and a chronograph.
The case, cuvette and dial are signed.
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Diameter: 57 mm
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Weight: 113 g
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Signed: Audemars Frères, Genève
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Audemars
Audemars Frères was a watchmaking company founded around 1885 by brothers Hector and Charles-Henri Audemars, grandsons of founder Louis Audemars. It was one of three successor companies formed after the bankruptcy of the original Louis Audemars Company. Audemars Frères was the most successful of the three successor businesses, operating until the early 1900’s.
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Although Audemars Frères was a separate entity from the more famous Audemars Piguet (founded by Jules Louis Audemars and Edward Auguste Piguet in 1875), the two are connected through the Audemars family and the history of watchmaking in the Vallée de Joux.
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Audemars Frères no longer exists and was defunct around 1910.
The well known, still active brand is Audemars Piguet, which was founded in 1875 and is a separate company although it also still is family owned.