Swiss gold and enamel watch for the Turkish market Circa 1840

Gold open faced pocket watch by Courvoisier Frères
–
A Swiss gold and enamel pocket watch for the Turkish market. Circa 1840. This watch features a gilt manual winding movement with a cylinder escapement. It has a white enamel dial with Turkish characters and Fleur de Lys hands. The 18 carat gold case is adorned with polychrome enamel panels depicting a bouquet, framed with translucent enamel. Comes with gold and enamel châtelaine.
–
Diameter: 42,5
–
Signed: Courvoisier Frères
–
Robert & Courvoisier are clock and watchmakers from La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. The firm was founded in 1795 as a successor to J. Robert & Fils, Courvoisier. In 1770, the firm was originally established by Josué Robert (1691–1771). After Robert’s death, a year after the company was founded, the firm was renamed Josué Robert & Fils and was led by his son, Louis Benjamin Robert (1732–1781). They mainly produced large clockworks, but as Benjamin’s son-in-law, Louis Courvoisier, became a companion, pocket watches were put into production. When Louis Benjamin died, Louis Courvoisier became the manager of the firm. From 1787 to 1795, the firm was called J. Robert & Fils, Courvoisier. From 1795 to 1805, it was renamed Robert & Courvoisier. Since 1805, the firm’s name was Robert, Courvoisier & Cie, with Philip Grandjean as a business partner. In 1852 it became Courvoisier Frères. The firm continued under the direction of various members of the Courvoisier family until the 1930s. Along with the Jaquet-Droz firm, they were the most important makers of musical clocks, and around the turn of the 18^th and 19^th centuries, their portable officers’ watches were famous.