Swiss 18K yellow gold full hunter pocket watch Circa 1900

Gold hunting cased lever watch
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A high quality Swiss 18 carat yellow gold hunting cased pocket watch made by Ricard & Co in Geneva, circa 1900. It features a mechanical movement with a lever escapement (Ancre Ligne Droite), 15 jewels, and a Breguet hairspring. The ornate enamel dial is decorated with applied gold floral and foliate scrolls, black Roman numerals, a subsidiary seconds dial at 6 o’clock, and elaborate gilt filigree hands, with both hour and minute hands set with a small stone. The 18 carat yellow gold full hunter case is decorated on both covers with a fine engine turned guilloché pattern and a chased floral border. The back has a central unengraved coat of arms within a decorative cartouche. The watch includes an 18 carat gold inner dust cover (cuvette) behind a protective glass plate. It is topped with a fluted crown and a rounded bow at 3 o’clock.
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Diameter: 52 mm
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Weight: 110.7 g
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Signed: RICARD & Co. Genève
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Condition: Blocked movement.
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Ricard & Co (Genève)
Ricard & Co was a reputable Swiss watchmaking firm based in Geneva, the historic centre of high end horology. Active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the company specialised in luxury pocket watches, often for international export. Their timepieces feature high grade movements with technical advancements such as the Breguet overcoil hairspring (Spiral Breguet) and precision lever escapements (Ancre Ligne Droite). The firm was known for its aesthetic craftsmanship, especially ornate “Belle Époque” dials with applied gold decorations and exquisitely engraved hunting cases. A Ricard & Co. signature, especially with Geneva provenance, signifies a watch of superior quality and mechanical refinement, crafted to meet the standards of the era’s most affluent clientele.