Swiss gold open faced minute repeating duplex watch Circa 1870

Gold duplex minute repeater
–
A very fine Swiss 18 carat gold open faced minute repeating keywind duplex pocket watch, made by François-Louis Barbezat in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland,  circa 1870. Gilt movement with duplex escapement, cut and compensated bi metallic balance, two hammers striking on two gongs repeating on gongs activated by a slide on the band. White enamel dial, black Roman numerals, black outer minute track, subsidiary seconds at 6, blued steel Breguet hands. Polished hinged case, repeater slide in band, HB monogram to back.
Signed case and dial.
–
Diameter: 48 mm
–
Signed: Fc Ls Barbezat Chaux de Fonds
–
François-Louis Barbezat
François-Louis Barbezat operated a highly specialised, small scale independent atelier in La Chaux-de-Fonds during the peak of the Swiss watchmaking boom. While his relatives achieved industrial fame in neighboring Le Locle—creating massive firms like Le Phare—François-Louis chose to remain a master horizontal watchmaker (complicateur), focused entirely on elite, low-volume timepieces.