Charming Swiss gold watch for the Chinese market Circa 1840

Gold, enamel and pearl set watch
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A charming Swiss, 18 carat gold and painted on enamel pocket watch with centre seconds, circa 1840. Made for the Chinese market. An Empire case, pale green, black enameled band, back finely painted on enamel with a bouquet of summer flowers including pink roses and a pair of doves, pearl set bezels, enameled pearl set pendant, and bow. Gold cuvette is hinged to the movement ring. White enamel dial, radial Roman numerals, outer minute/seconds divisions with fifteen minute/seconds Arabic numerals and blued steel hands. Fully chased and engraved movement, Chinese caliber with standing barrel, 14 jewels, lateral lever escapement, steel three arm balance with blued steel wedges, blued steel balance spring, index regulator. Movement signed by the retailer Just and Son.
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Diameter: 52 mm
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Signed: Bovet  Fleurier
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The Bovet watchmaking dynasty was 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 1in 864, 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.