Swiss gold repeater for the South American market Circa 1878

Gold gentleman’s open faced pocket watch by Henri Grandjean & Cie.
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A minute repeating Swiss gentleman’s pocket watch with concealed miniature on ivory, for the South American market, circa 1878.
An 18 Carat gold case with an engine-turned pattern, reeded band, engraved cartouche, two fitted and hinged back covers with pusher for separating them. Underneath is a very fine miniature under glass, painted on ivory: portrait of a young lady wearing a diadem and a pearl necklace decorated with gems; monogram signature HCMC lower right; numbered, signed and florally engraved gold dome, case maker’s punch mark PF, slide for repeating mechanism.
A signed enamel dial with radial Roman hours, auxiliary seconds, and blued Fleur de Lys hands. And a signed, keywind, nickel-plated, stripe-decorated bridge movement with two hammers / two gongs, going barrel, pink gold train, gold screw compensation balance, and counterpoised lever.
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Diameter: 51 mm
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Weight: 143 g
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Signed: Henri Grandjean & Cie., Le Locle
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Henri Grandjean (1803-1879) Swiss chronometer maker.
Henri Grandjean was born in Le Locle on December 14, 1803. From 1824 until 1830 he was assigned the task of organizing the South American branches of his father’s company; in 1830 his brother Henri Gustave emigrated to Peru and was from then on in charge of these businesses. Henri Grandjean trained as a watchmaker in his home town.
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Around 1830 his factory “Henri Grandjean & Cie.” began to build ship’s chronometers that were modelled on the English chronometers. His business partner was Edouard Thévenaz; together with Louis Jean Richard and Ulysse Nardin Grandjean was the originator of the Swiss marine chronometer production.
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In 1831 Grandjean married Elise Montandon, the daughter of Isaac Pierre. He was granted permission to open watchmaking schools and founded the observatory at Neuchâtel. Later Grandjean went into politics and became representative and prefect of the city of Le Locle. In La-Chaux-de-Fonds he worked for the establishment of the Quartier-Neuf, which was finally built in 1855; his intention was to eliminate real estate speculation and to create low priced housing for working-class families. A street in Le Locle was named after him – the Rue Henri-Grandjean. Henri Grandjean died on March 21, 1879 in Le Locle.