Swiss 18K gold duplex watch for the Chinese market Circa 1870

Gold open faced key winding duplex watch
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A fine and rare Swiss 18 carat gold and painted enamel open faced centre seconds pocket watch made for the Chinese market, depicting Titus et Bérénice (Titus and Berenice), made by Edouard Juvet in Fleurier, circa 1870. It has a mechanical key winding Chinese calibre movement with a duplex escapement, a suspended barrel, a mirror polished steel balance wheel with a flat balance spring, and an advance/delay adjustment racket on the balance bridge. The fire gilded brass plate structure is fully engraved with intricate scrolling foliage and stylized motifs, featuring a rare signature on the plate in Chinese characters. The white enamel dial features a railway minute track, bold black Roman numerals for the hours, outer Arabic numerals from 15 to 60 for the minutes, and blued steel hands with a sweep centre seconds hand.
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The timepiece is housed in a refined round hinged 18 carat gold case. The reverse back cover is exquisitely decorated with a finely painted polychrome enamel portrait scene of Titus and Berenice in classical attire within a landscape, framed by a continuous border of white floral motifs over a vibrant red enamel background. The inner protection is provided by a gold inner protective cuvette enhanced with finely chased decoration, completed by a decorated pendant stem, two square winding keys, and a sturdy round suspension bow.
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Diameter: 57 mm
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Weight: 126 g
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Signed: Edouard Juvet (in Chinese characters)
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Edouard Juvet
The Maison Juvet is one of the most eminent and legendary horological dynasties specializing in luxury timepieces for the Chinese market during the 19th century. Founded by Edouard Juvet (1820–1883) in Buttes in 1842, before moving to Fleurier in 1844, the firm achieved immense commercial success under Edouard and his sons, Ami-Louis and Léo. Operating flagship branches in Shanghai, Tien-tsin, and Saigon, Juvet’s market dominance in Asia was rivalled only by Bovet. Léo Juvet famously noted in his journals that their watches sold like salt. In 1873, Edouard officially registered a proprietary trademark in Chinese characters to authenticate their creations for the imperial elite.
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While most surviving Juvet watches bear standard European script, this exceptional piece belongs to a very small and highly coveted group featuring the prestigious Juvet signature meticulously engraved on the movement plates in traditional Chinese characters. Beyond its horological rarity, the watch is an artistic masterpiece of the post 1850 era. It boasts a lavishly hand engraved Chinese calibre with a duplex escapement and an exquisitely executed polychrome enamel reverse depicting the classical tragedy of Titus and Berenice. Framed by a vibrant Millefleurs style floral border, this iconic composition represents one of the most emblematic, trophy grade achievements produced by the house of Juvet. It is an extraordinary rarity for premier collectors of the Chinese market watchmaking.