Swiss lever watch with gunmetal and pink gold case Circa 1878

Gunmetal anker chronometer
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A fine precision pocket watch probably made by César Courvoisier as an apprentice in Switzerland, circa 1878. The open faced case of this watch is crafted from gunmetal and pink gold, and has a pink gold coat of arms on the back. The white enamel dial inscribed with the year 1878 has black Roman hour numerals, outer minute divisions, black Arabic five minute numerals,  subsidiary seconds at 6 o’clock and pink gold Louis XIV hands. The glazed movement has a very fine anker chronometer escapement. Dial signed Friedrich Ulrich Courvoisier and the movement signed César Courvoisier fecit.
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Diameter: 53 mm
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Weight: 103 g
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Signed: César Courvoisier fecit – Friedrich Ulrich Courvoisier              
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César Courvoisier
César Courvoisier was a Swiss watchmaker and apprentice of Charles-Edouard Guillod who founded his own watchmaking company in 1878. Courvoisier produced fine precision pocket watches. Around 1900, Courvoisier’s company was particularly active in Portugal, Spain, South America and the Far East, selling pocket watches under the name El Primero as well as producing movements for famous brands such as Longines and Vacheron Constantin. Before World War I, Switzerland was the world center for the production of mechanical pocket watches. Courvoisier was one of the makers and his pocket watches are still sought after by collectors.