MONTRE DE GOUSSET A CADRAN OUVERT EN OR SERTIE DE PERLES REMONTOIR A CLEF PROBABLEMENT SIGNE PAR BAUTTE & MOYNIER A GENEVE

A FINE CONTINENTAL GOLD AND SEED PEARL SET KEY WIND OPEN FACE POCKET WATCH PROBABLY BY BAUTTE & MOYNIER À GENÈVE Circa 1830

A FINE CONTINENTAL GOLD AND SEED PEARL SET KEY WIND OPEN FACE POCKET WATCH PROBABLY BY BAUTTE & MOYNIER À GENÈVE
Date: Circa 1830
Movement: Gilt cylinder, 3-arm balance
Dial: Engine turned gilt, seed pearl set Roman numerals and outer minute divisions, winding aperture at 3, gilt crescent tipped hour hand
Case: Seed pearl set hinged with pendant and bow decorated to match, No.35061
Size: 42mm
Accompaniments: Key

The use of seed pearls in fine jewellery and watches was extremely popular in the 1800's. Prestigious jewellers such as Cartier, Tiffany and Faberge decorated their pieces with tiny pearls to match the opulence of the time.

Jean-François Bautte (1772-1837) and Gabriel Moynier were two prominent Swiss goldsmiths, who created incredible watches, jewellery and objects of vertu. Jean-François Bautte is widely thought to be one of the inventors of the extra-thin watch.