Exquisite Swiss gold commemoration watch with chain Circa 1844

Gold and enamel open-faced cylinder watch by François & August Meylan
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A remarkable and exquisite Swiss gold and enamel open faced cylinder pocket watch with a chain, circa 1844. Presented by the Geneva cantonal police on the occasion of the Swiss Federal Rifle Championship 1844 in Basel, commemorating the 400 year anniversary of the battle of St. Jakob near Basel.
Florally engraved silvered dial, an eccentric chapter ring with inlaid radial Roman hours and outer minute divisions, a visible balance at 12 o’clock and Breguet hands.
Opaque enamelling on the case back, a central rectangular cartouche with a battle scene in copperplate engraving style, a polychrome enamel escutcheon listing the commanders who died in the battle: Seevogel, Reding, Walter, Brandli, Hofsteller, Seiler, Schick and Nestalier, the shield is flanked by two medallions showing figures in tears, military equipment and the Swiss cantonal flags at the sides, two lions and the cantonal coat of arms at the top, a reeded band, engraved pendant and bow, case maker’s mark FM. Partly gilt and silvered, lavishly florally engraved, full plate movement, key-wound, Bagnolet calibre, cylinder escapement, inscribed Offert par les Carabiniers du Canton de Genève au Tir Fédéral de Bâle 1844.
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Diameter: 43 mmç
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Weight: 37 g
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Signed: F & A Meylan à Genève
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In the Bagnolet calibre, the movement is inverted and the train is reversed. The idea was to make a very thin watch by reducing the thickness of the bridges and the dial eliminating the cuvette. Philippe Samuel Meylan is credited with the invention of the Bagnolet calibre.
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Philippe Samuel Meylan was born February 15th, 1772, in Bas-du-Chenet and died in Geneva in 1845. At 20 years of age, he came to Geneva where he was a master worker for the Godemar Frères. He met another watchmaker from his native region, Isaac Piguet, and they entered into a partnership, founding the Piguet & Meylan firm, which was to last from 1811 to 1828. It specialized in minute creatures, musical watches, skeleton and automaton watches. Meylan is also credited with the invention of the Bagnolet calibre. After Piguet & Meylan was dissolved, Philippe Samuel Meylan continued to work with his sons François and David Auguste.