Swiss silver and formerly gold plated mystery watch Circa 1880

Silver keyless mystery pocket watch
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A fine Swiss mystery watch in a silver double sided case made by Armand Schwob & Frère (A.S. & F.), circa 1880. It has a mechanical crown winding cylinder movement concealed within the crescent shaped upper part of the case frame, signed A.S. & F. The glass dials show Roman numerals. The hour and minute hands are rotating glass panes that interlock at the edges. The timepiece is housed in a unique round, double glazed silver case, formerly gold plated. The upper case features a gold plated crescent shaped design with lavish detailing, showing wear and minor dents. It has a gold plated front bezel around the central window, a matching back bezel, a fluted winding crown with a pinset pusher mechanism, and a sturdy round suspension bow.
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Diameter: 55 mm
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Signed: A.S. & F. Mystérieuse, Breveté S.G.D.G.
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Armand Schwob & Frère (A.S. & F.) was a Swiss watchmaking firm founded by brothers Armand and Abraham Schwob, originally from Basel but established in La Chaux-de-Fonds, a renowned centre of Swiss horology. The company gained international fame in the late 19th century with its iconic Mystérieuse pocket watch. This innovative design, based on a patent by French watchmaker Hugues Rime and inspired by magician Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin’s illusions, cleverly hid the cylinder movement in the crescent shaped upper rim of the case, making the hands appear to float on the transparent glass dial.
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However, the firm’s history included controversy. In 1885, Armand Schwob & Frère faced a major trademark infringement case after producing watches under the misleading name Pateck & Cie, Genève. Patek Philippe sued for forgery. The court imposed heavy penalties on the Schwob brothers and set important precedents for trademark enforcement in the Swiss watch industry. The financial fallout and mounting legal costs led to the company’s bankruptcy in 1892. As a result, true Mystérieuse pocket watches were produced only briefly, between about 1888 and 1892, making surviving examples highly prized by collectors today.