Swiss ultra-thin pocket watch with Bagnolet caliber Circa 1840

Gold enamel open faced pocket watch by Baudin Frères
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A decorative ultra-thin Swiss gold enamel pocket watch with Bagnolet caliber, circa 1840.
18 carat gold case; the back cover with an opaque polychrome enamel plaque depicting an Alpine river view framed by engraved foliate and flowers against an engine-turned and translucent cobalt blue enamelled ground, with reeded band and case maker’s punch mark “CF”. Signed enamel dial with radial Roman numerals and blued Breguet hands. Full plate movement, keywind, gilt, lavishly florally engraved, with cylinder escapement and three-arm brass balance.
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Diameter: 42 mm
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Weight: 34 g
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Signed: Baudin Frères Genève
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Baudin Frères
The company was active in Geneva from around 1800 to 1860 and specialized in fantasy watches, pendant watches for women, watches in snuff boxes and watches in Lorgnetten. The company was located on the Grand Quai (Quai du Général-Guisan), Rue Mallet, opposite the “Jardin anglais” English garden. The company was also represented in Paris at 7 rue de la Paix (view this location) , today this is the Piaget boutique .
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In the beginning, classic movements with a spindle escapement were built , later also Lépine calibers with a cylinder escapement. Pocket watches with a Bagniolet movement, an invention of Philippe Samuel Meylan , were also delivered . Reference was also lever escapement watches , probably from the studio of Sylvain Mairet . In 1838 there was a trial between Bourgignon et Hourlier and Baudin Frères in Reims. One of the brothers was C. Baudin .
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Bagnolet Caliber
In the bagnolet caliber the movement is inverted and the train reversed. The idea was to make a very thin watch by reducing the thickness of the bridges and the dial and to eliminate the cuvette. Philippe Samuel Meylan is credited with the invention of the bagnolet caliber.