Very rare German silver open faced lever watch Circa 1900

Watch by K. u. K. Fachschule für Uhrenindustrie
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Very rare German silver open faced lever pocket watch, circa. Gilt first class ankerchronometer movement, Geneva striping, moustache lever escapement, wolf’s toothing, fine adjusting device. White enamel dial with Roman numerals, fine hairlines, subsidiary seconds and blued steel hands. Engine turned case with a 900’er silver punch. Dial signed.
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Diameter: 52 mm
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Weight: 92 g
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Signed: K.K. Fachschule Karlstein N.Ö.
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‘Horologenland’ is a term derived from the watchmaking industry for the northern forest field around Karlstein. In 1759 ‘Horologe’ was first mentioned as a watchmaker in a church book. In 1830, circa 280 persons there produced around 130.000 watches. Owning a watch from Karlstein was luxurious. Travelling dealers sold the watches from the Waldviertel throughout the entire monarchy. But soon the wealthy customers were sufficiently supplied with timepieces and that led to the first crisis in the small watch industry. After that, the watchmaking school K. u. K. Technical school for watchmaking (K. u. K. Fachschule für Uhrenindustrie) was founded and was visited by watchmakers from near and far.