Swiss gold repeating watch for the Hispanic market Circa 1890

Hunting cased keyless lever repeater by Girard-Perregaux
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A Swiss pink gold hunting cased minute repeating keyless lever watch made for the South American market, circa 1890. This watch features a nickel, decoratively engraved 3/4 plate movement with lever escapement, a bimetallic compensation balance, a blued steel overcoil hairspring, steel satin finished repeating work, a rack partially visible on the backplate, and two polished steel hammers repeating on coiled gongs. The silver dial boasts Roman numerals interspersed with chased and engraved flowers, while the dial centre and rim are adorned with raised gilded flowers and foliage, along with subsidiary seconds, all signed to a banner Girard-Perregaux, Chaux-de-Fonds.
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The 18 carat pink gold case has engine turned covers, with the front featuring a large asymmetrical blank cartouche, a repeating slide to the band, a handsetting lever beneath the bezel, and a gold cuvette that is decoratively engraved with movement details and Medaille d’Or Paris 1889. The covers are decoratively engine turned on the interiors, with the covers and cuvette bearing Swiss hallmarks, signed and numbered. The back cover is also stamped JN within a rectangular cartouche.
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Diameter: 56 mm
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Signed: Girard-Perregaux, Chaux-de-Fonds
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The movement runs smoothly, with repeating functions performing well and sounding loud and clear. The winding and hands operate without issue. The dial shows some tarnishing, particularly on the outer gilded decoration, along with minor oxidation spots and scratches on the subsidiary seconds dial. The case has light marks and scratches, with slight rubbing on the engine turned edges, but the overall decoration remains clear and defined. There is a small dent on the front cover below the pendant.
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Girard-Perregaux SA is a luxury Swiss watch manufacturer whose origins date back to 1791. In 2022, the management of Girard-Perregaux completed a management buyout from the French luxury group Kering. Headquartered in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, the company opened the Girard-Perregaux Museum near its headquarters in Villa Marguerite in 1999. It is best known for its historic tourbillon with three gold bridges, which won a gold medal at the 1889 International Exposition in Paris soon after the watch’s launch. Other notable models from the company include the 1966 collection, 1945 vintage and models such as the TriAxial tourbillon and Laureato, an icon inspired by the 70s.