Swiss gold and enamel presentation watch Circa 1860-1870

Unsigned gold chronograph watch with enamel portrait
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An important and fine Swiss gold Imperial presentation watch with centre seconds and painted enamel portrait showing the Russian czar Alexander II (r. 1855–1881), circa 1860-1870.
This watch features a finely crafted Chinese calibre movement with intricate engravings, a standing barrel, a Chinese duplex escapement, a counterpoised steel three-arm balance, a flat hairspring, and an index regulator. The enamel dial displays Roman radial hours, outer minutes/seconds track, a subsidiary dial for constant seconds, and gold hands. The case is round-shaped with gold and enamel, and the cover and back are guilloché (engine-turned). The cover is black champlevé enamelled with the portrait of the Russian czar Alexander II, while the back is engraved and champlevé enamelled with a coat of arms. The inside cover features a coat of arms and the words PATENT and DUPLEX, all finely engraved in taille-douce (fine-cut).
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Diameter: 49 mm
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Unsigned
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The watch also bears various markings, including [1] Lion passant, [2] leopard’s head with crown, [3] K over 18 within a shield, [4] three chevrons within a rectangle (Neuchâtel mark for gold objects), [5] LM within an oval (unidentified maker’s mark), and [6] 18K. These impressive markings are located on the interior of the front and back covers, except for [6], which is on the pendant.
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In 1825, the Imperial Cabinet of Nicholas I allocated 2,500,000 rubles for gifts. This is an absolute spending record – the year of the coronation. In subsequent years, the bar was not lowered: in 1846; expenses amounted to as much as 401,567 rubles. During this period, the imperial gift acquired the status of an important award for courtiers, military and civil servants. And the “hours of the king”, which accounted for the lion’s share of awards, are becoming a tradition. As a rule, these are gold, generously inlaid items with an indispensable attribute – a dedicatory inscription and a miniature portrait of the emperor made in enamel. Every year the tradition expands – until 1917. Its echoes can still be heard today. For example, the foreign ministers receive a watch from the President of Russia – with a white dial, a coat of arms and a signature.