Swiss 14K yellow gold open faced pocket watch Circa 1827

Gold open faced verge fusee watch with key
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A fine Swiss 14 carat yellow gold open faced pocket watch with key, made by Anton Egerer and Charles Girardier, circa 1827. This watch has a mechanical key wound movement featuring a verge escapement and a richly decorated balance cock, signed Anton Egerer, Freystadt, on the movement. The painted enamel dial is marked Girardier Laine, with black Arabic numerals for the hours, an outer minute track, a winding aperture near 2 o’clock, and Breguet style hands. The rich dial decoration features a central horizontal deep blue band with gold leafwork, a lozenge shaped blue cartouche at 12 o’clock depicting a classic figure and putti, and a circular blue cartouche at 6 o’clock with a golden rampant horse.
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The timepiece is housed in a 14 carat solid yellow gold open faced case with a moss guilloché back cover, marked 1827 inside, and a classic round suspension bow. The watch comes with its winding key.
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Diameter: 51 mm
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Signed: Girardier Laine / Anton Egerer, Freystadt
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This pocket watch was mechanically produced by two notable historical artisans: the movement, signed by Anton Egerer from Freystadt, who created the verge escapement and its elaborately decorated balance cock, and the dial, signed by Girardier L’Aîné (Charles Girardier the elder), a distinguished Geneva master watchmaker and enamel artist known for detailed miniature paintings and automaton dials. In the early 19th century, it was common for watchmakers to acquire high quality painted dials or ornate cases from elite Geneva specialists such as Girardier to complement their own movements.