Swiss center seconds duplex for the Chinese market Circa 1810

Gold and cloisonné enamel duplex watch
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An extremely decorative Swiss 18 carat gold and enamel open faced duplex pocket watch made for the Chinese market, circa 1810. Glazed steel bridge movement, Lépine calibre, mirror polished, key wound, going barrel, steel train, duplex escapement, three-arm steel balance. White enamel dial with Roman hours and outer minute divisions, Arabic 12, 9, 6 and 3, centre seconds, blued spoon-shaped hands. The case back polychrome cloisonné enamelled, the bezel on both sides with champlevé enamel over a pink ground.
Movement signed.
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Diameter: 52 mm
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Weight: 85 g
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Signed: Vaucher à Fleurier
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Cloisonné is an ancient technique for decorating metalwork objects with coloured material held in place or separated by metal strips or wire, normally of gold. In recent centuries, vitreous enamel has been used, but inlays of cut gemstones, glass and other materials were also used during older periods, indeed, cloisonné enamel very probably began as an easier imitation of cloisonné work using gems. The resulting objects can also be called cloisonné.