Swiss 18 carat gold pocket watch with seconde morte Circa 1790

Important pocket watch with gold case for the Chinese market
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As one of the first watches for the Chinese market this is an important watch made by J. Robert & Fils, Courvoisier &Cie in la Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, circa 1790. The numbered open faced case of this watch was crafted from 18 carat gold, has the master’s punch BL, is glazed on both sides and has a case band with a lever to stop the jumping seconds. The white enamel dial has Arabic fifteen minute – and hour numerals and unusual gold hands. The numbered movement has a very early Pouzait lever escapement with gold balance, a diamond end stone and an unususal seconde morte complication.
The dial and movement are signed.
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Diameter: 56,5 mm
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Weight: 124 g
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Signed: Robert & Courvoisier
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This is one of the most interesting known pocket watches with Pouzait escapement. Normally, these watches are made of silver and very rarely with additional complications. Here we have a piece with original gold case and the extremely rare movement version with gold balance and diamond end stone. Pouzait’s attempt to combine a lever escapement and a large seconds beating balance was highly appreciated on the Chinese market due to its spectacular appearance. Later, Jacot invented the so called ‘Chinese duplex’ escapement. The watch presented here is one of the earliest pocket watches made for the Chinese market.