Swiss quarter repeater with jumping centre seconds Circa 1890

Gold half hunting cased pocket watch by Retouret
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An almost as new quarter repeating half hunting cased Swiss pocket watch with jumping centre seconds, circa 1890.
18 Carat gold, à goutte case with inlaid enamel Roman numerals, engine-turned and florally engraved front and back lid, engraved cartouche, reeded band, slide for repeating mechanism, and a signed gold dome. Enamel dial with radial Roman hours and gold spade hands. Nickel-plated, stripe-decorated, bridge movement with two hammers / two gongs, two barrels, screwed gold chatons, gold screw compensation balance, and counterpoised lever.
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Diameter: 48 mm
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Weight: 110 g
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Signed: Retouret, 18 Grand Quai, Genève
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Retouret company
The Retouret company was based in Geneva at Grand Quai 18, the watches were signed “Retouret, Fabricant à Paris et Genève”, so there was also a settlement in Paris. In 1878 diamonds were stolen from Retouret, and J. de Perceval, living under a false name, was arrested in 1879 Amsterdam.
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Little is known about the Geneva company Retouret. Occasionally you can find watches signed by him at auctions, which – as here – are always a bit idiosyncratic in the design of the work bridges, but always of good quality.
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Investigations have so far only revealed one person. The owner Pierre Hippolyte Retouret (1828-1892) was married to Clémence Honorine Courmont (1838-1922) . Pierre Hippolyte was born in Limoges but later resided in Paris, in the archives he is also listed in Geneva. Daughter Virginie Jeanne Marie Retouret died in Geneva on March 14, 1871, at the age of 11 months. Pierre Hippolyte’s brother Benoit Félix Retouret (1832-1868) was definitely a watchmaker but he worked in Limoges.