Swiss 14 carat gold hunting cased minute repeating lever Circa 1900

Gold pocket watch for Tsarist Russia
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An impressive gold hunting cased minute repeater made for Tsarist Russia by Audemars Frères in Brassus & Genève, Switzerland, circa 1900. The numbered case of this watch has three lids, which are all crafted from 14 carat gold, a spring front cover with an applied gold monogram and later hand engraved Russian hallmarks. Its numbered cuvette has the received medals and Russian Tsar’s eagle engraved and is marked Horlogers de sa Majesté l’Empereur de Russie. The white enamel dial has Arabic five minute and Roman hour numerals, a subsidiary seconds dial at 6 o’clock and steel spade hands. The numbered movement has a precision lever escapement of excellent quality and a minute repeater.
Case and movement have matching numbers, dial and cuvette are signed.
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Diameter: 56 mm
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Weight: 151 g
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Signed: Audemars Frères Brassus & Genève
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Audemars Frères
After the bankruptcy of the company Louis Audemars & Cie (the Ancienne Maison) in 1885, where Charles Henri Audemars was senior director, his two sons, Hector Adolphe Audemars and Charles Henri Audemars Jr., founded the company Audemars Frères in Geneva and Le Brassus. They continued the business very successfully and became the court watchmaker of the Russian tsar.

Two more companies that were formed after the bankruptcy were:
François Audemars Fils, founded by their elder brother, François. His watches are rare and said to be good quality but his business collapsed before the end of the 19th century and Louis Audemars & Cie, founded by a cousin Louis Audemars-Valette. His watches were good quality to begin with but declined in quality until he closed his company in about 1900.