Swiss gold lady’s watch with dial with enamel painting Circa 1880

Watch with particularly beautiful dial
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A gold lady’s watch with particularly beautiful dial with enamel painting, made by Dimier Frères & Cie. in la Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, circa 1880.  The open faced numbered case of this watch was crafted from 14 Carat gold and is magnificently chased, decorated with small enamelled flowers, carries the maker’s mark Dimier Frères & Cie and has a monogram on the back lid. The especially beautiful cartouche dial with enamel painting has black Roman hour numerals and golden hands. The movement has a cylinder escapement.
Movement signed.
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Diameter: 36 mm
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Weight: 34 g
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Signed: D.F.&Co                
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Dimier & Cie.
Was established in Geneva during the first quarter of the 19^th century by Jean Antoine Dimier (1795–1863). By 1835, the company was located at 27 Rue Croix d’Or. Dimier specialises in producing miniature pocket watches made of gold or gilt brass and adorned with floral enamel and pearls. These watches were mainly exported to China, where they were considered a rarity since the Chinese market generally preferred larger sized watches. The founder’s sons, Charles-Louis (1822–1896) and Auguste-Antoine (1824–1891) trained in watchmaking at the College of Geneva and La Chaux-de-Fonds. In 1846, they relocated to Fleurier, where Auguste worked as a watchmaker and Charles as a sales director. In 1847, Charles moved to Canton (now Guangzhou in southern China) and established Dimier & Cie. However, due to the war in China, the business was halted in 1860, and Charles returned to Switzerland. In 1862, the Dimier brothers moved the business from Fleurier to Geneva.

Dimier Frères & Cie is recorded as being active around 1835 in the rue Croix d’Or 27, they exported small watches in gilt brass, or gold and enamel, cases, often with a pearl set floral decor. They are further recorded at Quai des Bergues, 31 in 1857 and Quai des Etuves, 31, in 1860.

Dimier Frères
Charles-Louis and Auguste-Antoine Dimier founded their manufacture in La Chaux-de-Fonds and further expanded to Fleurier in 1846. Charles eventually established a branch in China, before returning to Europe around 1860 during a period of war when trade between the two continents faltered.