Swiss 18 carat gold full hunter tourbillon watch Circa 1873

Watch with perpetual calendar
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A unique gold and enamel full hunter cased watch with tourbillon and perpetual calendar, made by Tiffany & Co in Genève, Switzerland, circa 1873. The numbered à goutte (waterdrop shaped) case of this watch was crafted from 18 carat gold and features a spring lid with enamelled Masonic symbols and an applied double eagle with sword, set with a large diamond. The white enamel dial features a very rare retrograde date display in an outer ring, a real perpetual calendar with dials for the days of the week at 7 o’clock and the months at 11 o’clock, a decentral time display at 3 o’clock with Arabic five minute numerals, Roman hour numerals and a tiny subsidiary seconds display and a single hand. The numbered movement is fitted with an extremely unusual and previously unknown caliber, tourbillon with a lever escapement and a perpetual calendar with a moon phase.
The case and movement share matching numbers and are both signed and the dial is marked “U. Oppliger” on the inside.
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Diameter: 56 mm
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Weight: 166 g
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Signed: Tiffany & Co. Geneva
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The watch presented here has an extremely unusual time setting, originally patented by Ulrich Oppliger La Chaux-de-Fonds No. 213.833 in 1873, but has been repaired and restored several times over the decades and the original setting mechanism has been altered. The calendar movement also shows signs of repair. Nevertheless, this movement is extremely rare and unknown. The watch likely belonged to a Russian Freemason who later emigrated to the United States. The decoration on the case suggests that it was specially made for this individual.

The combination of tourbillon and perpetual calendar is extremely rare.
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Tiffany

Tiffany & Co. was active in Genève (Geneva) as a pocket watchmaker during the late 19^th century. The company did more than just retail; it operated its own manufacturing facilities to produce high end timepieces.
In 1878–1880, Tiffany sold its Place Cornavin factory and its equipment to its long time partner, Patek, Philippe. They continued to use the facility to produce “Made for Tiffany” movements.