Swiss watch with painted polychrome enamel portrait Circa 1850-55

Gold enamel pocket watch by François Czapek Bohemian
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An important and very fine Geneva watch with lever escapement and inlaid painted enamel portrait showing the Russian czar Nicholas I, circa 1850-1855.
Gilded brass and steel movement, with separate cocks for the train of wheels, jewelled end stones, lever escapement, temperature compensated balance wheel and a keyless stem winding mechanism. White enamel with Roman radial hours, outer minutes track and gold hands. Partly enamelled gold case; on the back cover of the case is a portrait of the Russian czar Nicholas I (r. 1825–55) in painted enamel, indicating that the watch was probably commissioned as a present to a subject in recognition of loyalty or service. Signed on the inside of the back cover: CZAPEK/ ET CIE/ A GENEVE, and signed on the bridge of going barrel of movement: Czapek & Cie / A GENÈVE/ N 2478.
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Diameter: 44 mm
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Signed: Czapek & Cie. a Genève
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This watch is a very early example of a stem winding movement, made by the original partner in the firm that became Patek, Philippe, still in Geneva. The mechanism is the earliest practical one to have been produced in quantity. It was invented by Antoine Norbert de Patek’s subsequent partner Jean-Adrien Philippe (1815–1894) and patented in 1845.