French gold dress watch with a shuttered dial Circa 1915

Gold minute repeating presentation watch
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An extremely fine and unique French, very thin and elegant 18K yellow gold and enamel minute repeating keyless dress watch with a shuttered dial, circa 1915. Made for Imperial presentation to a member of the Red Cross. Accompanied by a Certificate and the original Cartier red morocco box embossed with the Russian Imperial eagle.
The back cover with a central circular red and white champlevé enamel emblem of the Red Cross, and a coin-edge band.
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The front with a wide bezel and central glazed aperture with a white enamel outline, engraved below from H.P.D. 1919, the dial shutters with blue champlevé enamel monogram OHC (in Cyrillic ONS), the shutters opened to reveal the dial by depressing the button in the crown. Engine-turned matte silver dial with radial Roman numerals, outer minute track and blued steel Breguet hands. A matte gilt movement, 31 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance, blued steel flat balance spring, index regulator, repeating on gongs activated by a slide on the band. Dial signed Cartier, Paris.

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Diameter: 47 mm
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Signed: Cartier  Paris
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The exact history of this very rare watch is not known. However, it is thought that it was presented by Czar Nicholas II to his eldest daughter Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna around 1915. All the women of the House of Romanov served with the Red Cross and the famous Red Cross egg by Faberge was also made for Easter 1915. The engraved inscription on the front of the watch is believed to refer to a later owner who obtained the watch after the Revolution of 1918.