Swiss 18K gold quarter repeating hunting cased pocket watch Circa 1855

Gold keyless lever hunter 
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A Swiss 18 carat gold quarter repeating hunting cased keyless pocket watch, made by Czapek & Cie in Geneva, circa 1855. A solid case with plain covers and a gold cuvette. White enamel dial with Roman numerals, outer minute track, subsidiary seconds and blued steel hands. A nickel plated movement, Geneva striping decoration, 28 jewels, counterpoised straight line lever escapement, cut bimetallic balance, Breguet balance spring. Repeating on gongs with slide in the band. Signature on the dial and the case is numbered.
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Diameter: 48 mm
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Signed: Czapek & Cie, Geneva
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Czapek & Cie. Frantisek Czapek was a Polish émigré who arrived in Switzerland in 1832 after the failed Polish insurrection against Russia. On May 1, 1839, Antoni Patek and Czapek founded the firm Patek et Czapek in Geneva. The partnership lasted six years, during which many exceptional watches were produced. Afterwards, Patek established Patek Philippe Co. with a new partner, Adrien Philippe, and Czapek founded “Czapek et Cie” with Juliusz Gruzewski. The company did well. Gruzewski was a personal friend of Napoleon III, and Czapek quickly became watchmaker to the court of the Emperor. He had a factory in Geneva, a shop in Warsaw, and another in Paris.