Swiss carnelian lady’s fob watch studded with pearls Circa 1840

Gold open faced cylinder pendant watch by Henry Capt
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An excellent Swiss 18 carat gold and carnelian lady’s fob watch studded with pearls, circa 1840. Comes with a matching two-part gold chain set with six pearls.
The back of this pendant watch is a cameo carved from carnelian showing a little winged putto sitting on a cloud playing the pipe, the background features a shell motif, small half-pearls decorate the rim and the fine gold work on the winding crown is ornamented with freshwater pearls, the upper part of the goldwork forms a crown that is set with large pearls. White enamel dial with radial Roman numerals, outer minutes track and spade hands. Bridge movement, cylinder escapement, three-arm brass balance. Dial and cuvette signed.
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Diameter: 50 mm
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Weight: 42 g
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Signed: Henry Capt à Genève
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Henry-Daniel Capt was an independent Swiss watchmaker who specialized in watches with additional complications such as musical watches and automatons. Capt was one of the first in Geneva to use barrels and crowns in his automatons. Born in Chenit in the Vallée de Joux in April 1773, as the son of Jaques Samuel Capt and Susanne Piguet. On January 1st, 1796, he married Henriette Piguet. Around 1789, Henry settled in Geneva and worked for renowned companies such as Jaquet-Droz, Godet, Leschot and his brother-in-law Daniel Isaac Piguet. In 1802 he went into partnership with Daniel Isaac Piguet, which lasted until 1811. When this partnership ended, Capt kept producing his pieces before entering another partnership with Aubert et Fils in 1830. The firm was taken over by his son, Henry Capt, in 1844. He opened a shop on the Rue du Rhône in 1855, which became quickly famous. During the 1870s, the Henry Capt company advertised that they were the only Geneva watch manufacturer to have a branch retail house in London. He also established branches in Paris, Nice and New York. The house of Henry Capt flourished for many decades. Henry-Daniel Capt died in 1814.
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Carnelian (also cornelian) is a brownish-red mineral commonly used as a semi-precious gemstone. Similar to carnelian is sard, which is generally more complex and darker (the difference is not rigidly defined and the two names are often used interchangeably). Both carnelian and sard are varieties of the silica mineral chalcedony coloured by iron oxide impurities. The colour can vary greatly, ranging from pale orange to an intense almost-black colouration. Significant localities include Yanacodo in Peru and Rathnapura in Sri Lanka. It has been found in Indonesia, Brazil, India, Russia (Siberia) and Germany.