Heavy Swiss signet ring set with a miniature watch Circa 1860

Gold ring watch with seal by Henry Capt
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A very fine and important Swiss heavy 18 Carat gold signet ring set with a miniature watch, circa 1860. Frosted and ground gilt bridge movement, key wind, 10 jewels, cylinder escapement, three armed balance.
White enamel dial with radial Roman hours, outer minute divisions and blued Breguet hands. The case with a polished bezel, push back and a crystal intaglio beneath engraved with a crest, three fleur de lys and a royal crown, for use as a seal. Comes with a silk lined leather box by Hess & Metford, Genève and the original winding key.
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Diameter: 17 mm
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Weight: 22 g
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Signed: Henry Capt à Genève
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Henry-Daniel Capt was an independent Swiss watchmaker who specialized in watches with additional complications such as musical watches and automatons. Capt was one of the first in Geneva to use barrels and crowns in his automatons. He was born in Chenit in the Vallée de Joux in April 1773, as the son of Jaques Samuel Capt and Susanne Piguet. His brother was Charles Samuel Capt. On January 1st, 1796, he married Henriette Piguet. In the Vallée de Joux, Capt trained as an établisseur. Around 1789, Henry settled in Geneva and worked for renowned companies such as Jaquet-Droz, Godet, Leschot and his brother in law Daniel Isaac Piguet. In 1802 he went into partnership with Daniel Isaac Piguet, which lasted until 1811. When this partnership ended, Capt kept producing his pieces before entering another partnership with Aubert et Fils in 1830 as Aubert & Capt, located in Place Bel-Air, Geneva. The firm was taken over by his son, Henry Capt, in 1844. He opened a shop on the Rue du Rhône in 1855, which quickly gained an excellent reputation. During the 1870s, the Henry Capt company advertised that they were the only Geneva watch manufacturer to have a branch retail house in London. He also established branches in Paris, Nice and New York. The house of Henry Capt flourished for many decades. Henry-Daniel Capt died in 1841.

Hess & Metford. Were active in Geneva between 1840 and 1860 and succeeded the firm of Heil & Hess. The company’s reputation was principally for the sale of complicated, high quality pocket watches destined for North America.