Swiss centre seconds watch for the Chinese market Circa 1860

Silver gilt, polychrome enamel, and pearl-set watch by Bovet
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A Swiss lady’s silver gilt, polychrome enamel, and pearl-set centre seconds cylinder watch made for the Chinese market, circa 1860. The watch features a frosted gilded Chinese-calibre movement with a cylinder escapement, a plain flat three-arm brass balance, and a standing barrel. The dial is white enamel with Roman numerals, blued steel moon hands, and a centre seconds hand, signed Bovet Fleurier. The silver-gilt case has a back with polychrome enamel painted flowers against a pale green background, pearl-set bezels and bow, a milled band, and a glazed hinged cuvette with apertures for winding and hand-setting. Inside the back, there is a Bovet Chinese character signature and numbered 219.
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Diameter: 32.5 mm
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Signed: Bovet Fleurier
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Movement is operational, and surfaces generally seem to be clean, with minor oxidation on screw heads. The dial has some light scratches but is generally in good condition. The case is in good overall condition. The enamel panel has a few scratches, and the gilding on the bow is worn. All the pearls are present. There is some tarnishing and blackening of the surface around the hinge and beside the pendant.
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Bovet Fleurier SA is a Swiss company that specialises in manufacturing and retailing watches. The company has a rich history, starting with Edouard Bovet, who ran a watch factory in London with his brother Charles Alphonse. In 1822, they moved the factory to Fleurier and focused on the watch trade with China. Other companies from Fleurier, such as Juvet, Charles-Henri Vaucher, Claude & César Vaucher, and Vaucher Frères, were also active in this business during that time.
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Around 1880, the Bovet company achieved a significant milestone by producing a pocket watch with a cylinder escapement that had a running time of one year, also known as an annual watch. This was made possible by incorporating an extra-long mainspring in a very large barrel and two intermediate wheels in front of the minute wheel.
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The Bovet company went through several changes in ownership over the years. It was acquired by J. Ullmann & Co. in 1918, then by Albert Bovet and Jean Bovet in 1932. In 1948, Favre Leuba acquired the name and production facilities, and Bovet continued to produce watches until 1950. The Bovet name was later sold to a cooperative of watchmakers in 1966, and in 1989, Parmigiani Fleurier SA acquired the name, leading to the creation of Bovet Fleurier SA. The company was eventually taken over by Roger Guye and Thierry Oulevay in 1989, and since 2006, it has been owned by watch collector and enthusiast Pascal Raffy.
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Bovet is a member of the quality association FQF (Fondation Qualité Fleurier).