Swiss 18K gold and turquoise-set pocket watch Circa 1830

Gold watch with verge escapement
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A very fine and rare Swiss 18K gold and turquoise-set granulation-decorated pocket watch, circa 1830. The case is decorated with applied gold foliage set with a turquoise in granulation decorated collets, bezel, pendant and bow decorated to match. Gold dial, matte engine-turned and engraved, champlevé radial Roman numerals, outer minute track and gold Breguet hands. A frosted gilt movement, fusee and chain, verge escapement with micrometric potence adjustment, three-arm brass balance with fl at balance spring, pierced and engraved continental cock with polished steel endplate, silver regulation dial. Movement signed.
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Diameter: 40 mm
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Signed: Bautte & Moynier  Genève
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The present watch is a particularly fine example of the granulation technique of decoration and has been preserved in good condition. Granulation, a technique using tiny beads of gold, was employed – and probably invented – by the ancient Etruscans, who created jewellery highly sought-after throughout the Mediterranean. Most watches using this method employed a technique in which ready-to-apply gold beads were soldered onto the surface, forming the desired pattern.