Swiss pink gold and enamel lever pendant watch Circa 1896

Gold and enamel Montre de Tir by Vacheron & Constantin
–
A fine and small Swiss 18 Carat pink gold and enamel keyless lever Montre de Tir, specially made for the Great Shooting contest of the National Swiss Exhibition of Geneva of 1896. Polished round shaped case, the hinged back with a painted polychrome enamel scene of boats on the Lake of Geneva, the snowy peak of the Mont Blanc in the background surrounded by chased gold scrolls and the coat of arms of the Canton of Geneva against an engine turned translucent blue enamel ground, engraved in taille-douce with the cypher M M. The gold cuvette inscribed Grand Tir de l’Exposition Nationale Genève 1896. White enamel dial with radial blue Arabic hours, an outer minutes track and gold Louis XV hands. Gilded brass jewelled keyless movement with going barrel, straight line lever escapement, a compensated balance with gold poising screws and blued steel flat hairspring. Dial, case and movement signed.
–
Diameter: 30 mm
–
Signed: Vacheron & Constantin Genève
–
 In 1896, for the Grand Tir (the great shooting contest) of the National Swiss Exhibition, which takes place in Geneva, Vacheron & Constantin produced a few series of pendant watches for the Committee of Organisation as a gift for the winners of the competitions. A few pendant watches were specially made with an enamel painting on the back showing a view of the Geneva Lake with one of its famous boats (barque du Léman) and the coat of arms of the City of Geneva. The enamels by Lacreuze or by Ronet.