English gold half-hunting cased with split-seconds Circa 1861

Small Gold lever lady’s watch
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A very fine and rare small English, 18K gold and enamel half-hunting cased, keyless, pocket watch, circa 1861. With unusual split-seconds on the subsidiary dial and Adolphe Nicole’s keyless winding. A massive, polished case, applied gold chapter ring with blue enamel radial roman numerals and inner minute track around a glazed central aperture.
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White enamel dial with radial Roman numerals, outer minute track, subsidiary seconds with unusual split-seconds operated by a pusher in the band. Blued steel double spade hands. A frosted and gilt movement, 3/4 plate, jewelled to the third wheel, lateral lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance, mobile stud barer, flat, Alfred Nicole keyless winding on the backplate, split-seconds mechanism under the dial. Dial and movement signed the case with a master mark for James Walter Scott.
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Diameter: 42 mm
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Signed: C. F. Hancock  London
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This watch employs a very unusual and rarely seen split-seconds mechanism that functions by pushing a button in the band which stops the second’s hand. When the button is released the hand rejoins the constant second’s hand. In 1844 Adolphe Nicole, one of the founders of the Nicole Nielsen firm, took out patent no. 10348 for keyless winding and the first start/stop/return to zero chronographs.