Swiss gold, pearl watch made for the Chinese market Circa 1830

Gold lady’s watch with pearl-set dial and key
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A very fine and rare Swiss, 18K gold, split pearl-set pocket watch with pearl-set dial and key, circa 1830. Made for the Chinese market. A sprung and hinged bezel set with split-pearls and seed pearls, the backset entirely with graduated split-pearls in a radial pattern, pendant and bow decorated to match. Matte and engine-turned gold dial with radial Roman numerals set with seed pearls, varicoloured gold flower and foliate border, central rosette. Gold Breguet hands. A gilt brass movement, three-quarter plate, spring barrel, cylinder escapement, three-arm gold balance recessed within the movement, flat balance spring, index regulator. Movement signed, case marked BM and numbered.
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Diameter: 43 mm
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Signed: Bautte & Moynier  Genève
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The case is slightly rusted and oxidized
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This type of watch, entirely pearl-set, was made not only for Europe but also for the Chinese market. A similar watch is published in ‘La Montre Chinoise’, Alfred Chapuis, plate after page 228. Another is illustrated in ‘La Montre des origines au 19ème siècle’, by Catherine Cardinal.
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Bautte & Moynier are successors of the renowned Genevan firm which was founded by Jean-François Bautte, and which was known successively by the names of Moulinié & Bautte, Moulinié, Bautte et Cie, Moulinié, Bautte & Moynier, Bautte, Jean- François Bautte & Cie, Rossel, Bautte & Cie, J. Rossel et Fils, Felipe Hecht, and Juan Hecht. The Bautte & Moynier firm was founded in 1826 by Jean-François Bautte and Jean-Gabriel Moynier.