Swiss 18K gold open faced triple calendar watch Circa 1935

Yellow gold calendar watch by Henri Robert Ekegrèn
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Swiss 18 carat yellow gold open faced triple calendar watch with chain, circa 1935. The watch features a 17″ ligne movement with 19 jewels and a lever escapement. It has a silvered dial with applied Breguet numerals, apertures for the day, date, and month, outer minute markers, and cathedral hands. The 18 carat yellow gold case features a cuvette and a hinged back, decorated with a monogram. The case, dial, and movement are all signed. An 18 carat yellow gold chain accompanies it.
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Diameter: 46 mm
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Signed: H.R. Ekegrèn Geneva, Swiss
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The case back features an engraving of the initial L.E.U. with minor surface wear. The inner cuvette bears the engraving Leonard E. Ulrope With Good Wishes And Affection From All The Employees Of The Standard Oil Co. Of Pennsylvania May 1935, Made For J.E. Caldwell & Co, Philadelphia.
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The movement is fully operational. All functions are working correctly. The dial shows minor signs of wear and oxidation due to ageing, which are barely visible to the naked eye. The hands exhibit slight surface wear. The case displays signs of surface wear throughout, with a minor dent on the band at 8 o’clock, also visible to the naked eye. Overall, the watch is in good condition considering its age.
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Henri Robert Ekegrèn, a renowned Danish watchmaker, was born in Copenhagen in 1823 to watchmaker Daniel Ekegrèn. Throughout his career, he worked with notable figures such as Jules-Frédéric Jürgensen, Henri Golay, Joseph Thaddeus Winnerl, and Adolph Lange before establishing his own business in Geneva. In 1857, he cofounded Ekegrèn & Westermann with Ferdinand Westermann.
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After Westermann’s departure in 1862, the company was renamed H.R. Ekegrèn. Ekegrèn gained recognition by winning multiple gold medals at world exhibitions and consistently excelling in Geneva’s chronometer competitions. His timepieces were considered among the finest in Geneva.
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In 1891, Ekegrèn sold his business to E. Koehn but continued to contribute to the company until his passing in 1896 at the age of 72. In his honour, Koehn marked the best watches with H.R. Ekegrèn. The company also supplied watches to prestigious firms like Tiffany & Co.
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Ekegrèn was highly esteemed for his sophisticated craftsmanship and held a patent for a horological oil presented in 1874. In 1888, the Art Society of Geneva deemed it the best oil produced to date. He served as the watchmaker to the King of Denmark and earned gold medals at the Universal Exhibitions in Paris (1867), Vienna (1873), Philadelphia (1876), and Paris again (1878).
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The company was located in Geneva at the Grand Quai, now Quai Général-Guisan 26, near Patek Philippe. The site has since housed various businesses, including Bucherer, Holland America Line, Natural Le Coultre, Universal Genève, and currently, a Chanel store. Nearby are Patek Philippe and the former Hotel de Paris, now Hermès