Swiss 18 carat gold and enamel open faced watch Circa 1850

Gold cloisonné decorated cylinder watch
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A Swiss 18 carat gold and enamel open faced pocket watch made by Courvoisier in La Chaux-de-Fonds, circa 1850. This watch features a gilt movement with a cylinder escapement. It has a silver guilloché dial with Roman numeral hour markers, outer minute divisions and Breguet hands. The signed case includes a front bezel with a cloisonné enamel flower design, and the back and bow are decorated to match.
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Diameter: 42 mm
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Weight: 39.9 g
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Signed: Courvoisier
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Cloisonné is an ancient technique for decorating metalwork objects with coloured material held in place or separated by metal strips or wire, normally of gold. In recent centuries, vitreous enamel has been used, but inlays of cut gemstones, glass and other materials were also used during older periods, indeed, cloisonné enamel very probably began as an easier imitation of cloisonné work using gems. The resulting objects can also be called cloisonné.