Swiss 18K gold grande and petite sonnerie clock watch Circa 1890

Gold minute repeating lever clock watch
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Extremely fine and rare Swiss heavy 18K gold hunting cased two-train grande and petite sonnerie minute repeating clock watch, circa 1890. Retailed by C. Marcks & Co Ltd, Bombay and Poona. Fully engraved case with stylized foliage and geometric patterns by Ferrero, Geneva. Hinged gold cuvette partially engraved with flowers and foliage over a glazed gold bezel for viewing the movement. Frosted and engraved silver dial with radial Roman numerals on raised cartouches, dot minute markers, subsidiary seconds, finely chased and engraved applied gold foliate border and centre, blued steel spade hands.
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A gilt-brass movement, 31 jewels, two-train, tandem winding, straight-line lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance with gold timing and temperature adjustment screws, white metal Breguet balance spring, index regulator, repeating and striking on gongs, the repeating via a trip slide in the band, strike/silent and quarters/full strike selection levers in the bezel. Dial and movements signed by the retailer, Grandjean and Ferrero trademarks on the case.
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Diameter: 58 mm
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Signed: Henri Grandjean & Co Le Locle
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This case is made by J. Ferrero, a case maker who specialized in richly decorated cases for the Indian market. Marcks & Co Ltd was the most prestigious store for luxury goods in India. Its major supplier was Henri Grandjean, who made very high-quality watches. The company specialized in Grande Complication watches, watches with a perpetual calendar, independent seconds with diablotine, chronographs, repeaters, clock watches and tourbillons. Their watch cases were usually highly decorated, often with enamels, precious and semi-precious stones. Henry Grandjean along with Constant Girard (later Girard-Perregaux) early entered the South American Market.
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Along with Ulysse Nardin, he was one of the first to establish a marine chronometer manufacturing business in Switzerland and was an initiator of the Neuchâtel Observatory. At the 1851 London Universal Exhibition, Grandjean won a First Class medal. His list of medals continues until 1868 when the company won an award for marine chronometers. They received at least eight further awards, not including several from the Observatory of Neuchâtel. Though Henry died in 1879, the company appears to continue until 1899, when Rossel & Fils registered their name as successors. On January 9th, 1908, Rossel & Fils transferred the title to Charles- Ferdinand Perret.