Swiss 18K gold musical repeating pocket watch Circa 1850

Gold open faced key winding watch for the Ottoman market
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A fine Swiss 18 carat pink gold open faced pocket watch with musical and quarter repeating complications made by Maillardet et Cie for the Ottoman market in the first half of the 19th century. This watch has a mechanical key winding gilt brass movement featuring a verge escapement, a musical mechanism, and a quarter repeater mechanism striking on gongs activated by pushing the pendant. It is signed Maillardet et Cie. The white enamel dial shows black painted Turkish hour markers, an outer minute track, a detailed polychrome floral bouquet painted on a vibrant gilded background in the centre, and blued steel hands. The timepiece is housed in a substantial round two body, 18 carat solid pink gold open faced case featuring a finely engine turned guilloché back cover, a fluted caseband, a sturdy round suspension bow, and an internal protective metal cuvette.
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The watch is accompanied by a matching winding key and a short chain.
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Diameter: 57 mm
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Weight: 131.6 g
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Signed: Maillardet et Cie
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Maillardet & Cie (also known as Maillardet et Cie) refers to a historical partnership of the famous Swiss watchmaking and mechanician family Maillardet, active during the early 19th century in Geneva and London.
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Registered as watchmakers and merchants of all types of timepieces, the family is world renowned for their pioneering work in horology and complex automata (mechanical robots).
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Today, their horological legacy continues through French watchmaker Ultra (Paul Maillardet & Fils). The name ‘Henri Maillardet’ also lives on as a Swiss luxury jewellery and art brand inspired by this rich history.