Swiss duplex watch made for the Chinese market Circa 1870

Gold, enamel and pearl set watch
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A charming Swiss 18 carat yellow gold, painted on enamel and pearl set pocket watch, circa 1870. Made for the Chinese market. Empire case, polychrome painted-on enamel, a bouquet of early summer flowers and a pair of white doves to the back, turquoise blue ground, bezels, pendant and bow set with split pearls. Centre seconds pocket watch with hand-engraved movement and duplex escapement. Mirror polished steel movement, Chinese calibre with a free-standing barrel, duplex escapement, bimetallic compensation balance with blued steel flat balance spring, index regulator. Gilt-rimmed glazed cuvette hinged to the movement ring. White enamel dial with narrow Roman numerals, outer minute and seconds divisions, outer Arabic fifteen minute and seconds numerals, original blued steel flower hands. The movement and dial signed.
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Diameter: 41 mm
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Signed: Bovet  Fleurier
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Bovet watchmaking dynasty founded by Edouard, Frédéric, Alphonse, Gustave, Charles-Henri, and Caroline Bovet, of Fleurier. In 1822, a Bovet partnership was founded for the Chinese watch trade in Canton. In 1840, Bovet Frères et Cie was established in Fleurier, and 1864, the Bovet watch production was sold to Bovet’s manufacturing inspectors in Fleurier, Jules Jéquier and Ernest Bobillier, soon joined by Ami Leuba. In 1888, Bovet Frères was founded under the direction of Alexis Landry, who served his apprenticeship in Fritz Bovet’s workshop in Fleurier, producing ebauches for Chinese watches and silver cases. Alexis Landry formed a partnership with Albert and Jean Bovet, specializing in complicated watches and chronographs. In 1901, the Bovet trademark was acquired by César and Charles Leuba, sons of Ami Leuba.
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In 1918, Jacques Ullmann & Co. of La Chaux de Fonds bought the Bovet brand from Leuba Brothers, and in 1948, Favre-Leuba took over the company and acquired the first production plant. In 1966 Favre-Leuba sold the Fleurier plant, and in 1989 Parmigiani acquired the Bovet name. A limited company registered as Bovet Fleurier S.A. was formed in 1990, using the Bovet trademark. In 1994, Roger Guye and a partner bought Bovet Fleurier S.A. and opened a branch in Geneva. Pascal Raffy became the majority shareholder and President in 2001. Today, Bovet timepieces are widely available in the world’s major destinations. Eager to maintain its historical roots in the Far East, the company has subsidiaries in Hong Kong and Japan and delivers its collection to select distributors in Singapore, Taiwan, the Middle East, Turkey, Russia, the United States, London, and Geneva.