Swiss gold verge with calendar and visible balance Circa 1820

Rose gold open faced verge watch by Robert & Courvoisier  
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An unusual Swiss 18 carat rose old open faced gentleman’s pocket watch with calendar and visible balance, circa 1820.
Polished case with case maker’s mark FP. Signed white enamel dial with gold foliage decoration, eccentric hour indication with Arabic numerals at 6 o’clock, date indication at 9, a glazed visible balance at 12, date indication at 3 and filigree gold hands. Fire gilt full plate movement, key wind, chain and fusee, solid movement pillars, large regulator scale, verge escapement, three-arm brass balance and steel balance bridge.
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Diameter: 52 mm
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Weight: 73 g
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Signed: Robert & Courvoisier
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Robert & Courvoisier are clock and watchmakers from La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. The firm was founded in 1795 as a successor to J. Robert & Fils, Courvoisier. In 1770 the firm was originally established by Josué Robert (1691–1771). After Robert’s death, a year after the company was founded, the firm was renamed Josué Robert & Fils and was led by his son Louis Benjamin Robert (1732–1781). They mainly produced large clockworks, but as Benjamin’s son-in-law, Louis Courvoisier became a companion, pocket watches were put into production. When Louis Benjamin died, Louis Courvoisier became the manager of the firm. From 1787 to 1795 the firm was called J. Robert & Fils, Courvoisier. From 1795 to 1805 it was renamed Robert & Courvoisier. Since 1805 the firm’s name was Robert, Courvoisier & Cie with Philip Grandjean as a business partner. In 1852 it became Courvoisier Frères. The firm continued under the direction of various members of the Courvoisier family until the 1930s. Along with the Jaquet-Droz firm, they were the most important makers of musical clocks and around the turn of the 18^th and 19^th centuries, their portable officers’ watches were famous.