Swiss 14K yellow gold full hunter pocket watch Circa 1865

Gold hunting cased keyless lever watch for the Russian market
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A fine Swiss 14 carat yellow gold full hunter pocket watch made by J.F. Boutte for Hy Moser and Cie for the Russian market, circa 1865. This watch has a mechanical movement with a lever escapement, a bimetallic balance wheel, and a flat blued steel balance spring, signed J.F. Boutte. The white enamel dial shows black Roman numerals for the hours, an outer minute track, a subsidiary seconds dial at 6 o’clock, and blued steel Breguet style hands. The timepiece is housed in a substantial round 14 carat solid yellow gold full hunter case stamped with a Neuchâtel rams head and Russian hallmarks. It features finely guilloché front and back covers, the front cover centred with an intricately engraved dog medallion, a fluted winding crown, a sturdy round suspension bow, and a solid 14 carat gold inner protective cuvette.
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Diameter: 51 mm
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Weight: 103 g
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Signed: J.F. Boutte
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The relationship between J F Boutte and Hy Moser and Cie reflects a unique collaboration between Swiss watchmaking craftsmanship and the Russian luxury market in the nineteenth century. Jean François Bautte, whose name was often spelled Boutte by Russian clients, was a legendary watchmaker from Geneva renowned for his exceptional movements and refined cases. Henry Moser owned the exclusive distribution network and high end boutiques in Tsarist Russia.
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To satisfy the immense demand from the Russian aristocracy, Moser purchased premium timepieces and movements directly from Boutte’s Swiss workshops. Since the name Boutte carried enormous prestige in Russia and symbolized the highest quality, Moser kept this signature on the watches as an additional mark of excellence for his wealthy clientele. The name became so popular in Russia that Moser officially registered Qualité Boutte as his own trademark for watches built to those same high Swiss standards. The combination of both names on a single timepiece signifies that the piece was manufactured by Boutte in Switzerland but specifically ordered, certified, and brought to market by Moser’s trading house.