Swiss watch with perpetual calendar and moon phases Circa 1880

Gold perpetual calendar with moon phases by Charles Edouard Lardet
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An exquisite, Swiss hunting cased astronomical watch with perpetual calendar and moon phase, circa 1880.
Engine-turned 18-carat gold case, glazed movement, keyless winding. Enamel dial with radial Roman hours, auxiliary seconds, moon phase, three subsidiary dials for indications of the weekday, the date and months under consideration of the leap year, and fleur-de-lys hands. 3/4 plate movement, gold screw compensation balance.
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Diameter: 51 mm
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Weight: 144 g
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Signed: Charles Edouard Lardet, Fleurier, Swiss
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Charles Edouard Lardet (1832-1904) born in Fleurier, Swiss.
The company he founded supplied, among other things, the Arab market – which was probably behind his decision to open a workshop in Madrid to be closer to the target markets than from Switzerland. It was lucky that the painter Ferdinand Hodler (1853-1918) not only devoted himself to the Spanish master painters when he travelled the country in 1878/1879 – he also took the time to paint Lardet’s workshop as well as probably Lardet himself. We know from letters that Lardet supported the young artist during his stay in Madrid. The art museum in Lucerne has a lovingly painted and very detailed view of a watchmaker’s workshop, created by one of the most important Swiss painters in the 19th century.