Swiss double dialled full hunter calendar lever watch circa 1890

Pink gold full hunter watch by Alfred Courvoisier
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A fine pink Swiss gold hunting cased double dialled keyless lever calendar watch, circa 1890. Damascened nickel movement with lever escapement, bimetallic compensation balance, calendar work on a separate plate hinged into the case and operated via motion work driven from the centre wheel, the calendar work advanced via a pin pushing a lever through an aperture to the damascened and pearled backplate of the calendar dial, signed with the stamp of Alfred Courvoisier Jonais. Double dial, the front dial white enamel with Roman numerals, an outer Arabic minute ring, sunken subsidiary seconds, and blued spade steel hands; the second dial white enamel with a black outer ring for the date; and two subsidiary dials with black enamel chapter rings for day and month in French.
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Pink gold case with polished covers, the front with engraved monogram beneath a coronet, case back numbered 20702, front numbered 702, and case maker’s mark E surrounded by 4 pellets within a lozenge shaped cartouche.
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Diameter: 54.5 mm
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Signed: Alfred Courvoisier Jonais
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The movement is operational, and the calendar advances at midnight. The calendar can also be adjusted using the two levers beneath the bezel. The hand indicating the month is currently positioned between months and should be reset. There is a scratch extending from the dial centre towards the 10 o’clock position, a small chip at the very edge near the 3 o’clock position, and another small chip at the top edge of the subsidiary seconds. The calendar dial is in good condition with a few minor scratches. The case shows signs of polishing, with some wear on the engraved monogram/coronet.
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Alfred Courvoisier Jonais from La Chaux-de-Fonds was granted US Patent 116316 on June 27, 1871, for his “Improvements in Double Faced Watches.” The primary advantage of Jonais’ design was its ability to easily detach the calendar mechanism from the main watch movement. This feature facilitated straightforward inspection of both components and expedited repair processes.