Swiss gold plated musical automaton pocket watch Circa 1980

Gold plated keyless lever with centre seconds
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A Swiss gold plated musical centre seconds keyless lever pocket watch, circa 1980.
The Huntsman’s Rest with two automata and an alarm. Jewelled nickel lever movement, monometallic balance, a pinwheel musical mechanism activated by the alarm function or through a button on the cuvette. A blue enamel background on the front, an eccentric white enamel dial with Roman hours, outer minute dots and sweep centre seconds, an applied varicoloured gold automaton depicting a falconer watering his horse at a trough with a lady operating the pump flowing simulated water, varicoloured foliage with two dogs and a basket in the foreground. The case with a stepped bezel and engine-turned back. Dial and cuvette signed.
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Diameter: 57 mm
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Thickness: 22 mm
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Signed: Charles Reuge  Swiss made
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Accompanied by a fitted box
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The origins of Reuge date back to 1865 when Charles Reuge set up a musical pocket watch shop in the Swiss Mountain town of Sainte-Croix. By 1886 his son, Albert Reuge opened a music box workshop, the company experienced success and their mechanisms were to be found in a range of products such as powder compacts and cigarette lighters. By 1930 Guido Reuge had built the Reuge factory and he guided the company for over 60 years. Today Reuge retains its historical elements still producing singing birds but moving with the times, their music boxes today come in traditional but also modern and innovative designs.