Swiss gold and enamel hunting cased lever watch Circa 1868

Gold watch with a portrait of Martha Washington
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A very fine Swiss 18 Carat gold and enamel full hunter cased lady’s lever pocket watch with a portrait of Martha Washington, wife and first lady of the first president of the United States George Washington, circa 1868. Frosted gilt bridge movement, club tooth lever escapement, lateral lever, gold screw compensation balance.
The case engine turned on both sides, on the front lid a central cartouche with black enamel foliage scroll ornaments and an oval polychrome enamel miniature portrait of Martha Washington, the band with stars and stripes decoration on a blue enamel ground, engraved pendant with a blue enamel star on both sides, the back with a central champlevé enamel cartouche with foliage scrolls. White enamel dial with radial Roman hours, outer minute divisions, auxiliary seconds and arrow shaped hands.
Signed gold cuvette. Comes with the original silk lined morocco case.
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Diameter: 40 mm
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Weight: 54 g
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Signed: Breitling Laederich La Chaux-de-Fonds
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Martha Dandridge Custis Washington (1731-1802) was the wife of George Washington, the first president of the United States. Although the title was not coined until after her death, Martha Washington is considered to be the first First Lady of the United States. During her lifetime she was also known as ‘Lady Washington’. Widowed at 25, Custis had four children with her late husband, two survived to young adulthood. She brought great wealth to her second marriage with Washington, which enabled him to buy many land and slaves to add to his personal estate. She also brought nearly 100 dower slaves for her use during her lifetime. They and their descendants reverted to her late husband’s estate at her death and were inherited by their heirs. She and Washington did not have children but they reared two children of her late husband, including son John (Jackie) Custis, who died during the Revolutionary War, as well as helping both of their extended families.