Russian Imperial Presentation Enameled Gold Hunter Case Pocket Watch

Russian Imperial Presentation Enameled Gold Hunter Case Pocket Watch
Pavel Buhre, St. Petersburg, No. 152335, circa 1913
The white enamel dial with Roman numerals, five minute indicators, on a outer railroad track chapter ring, sunken subsidiary seconds, gold-tone spade hands and signed taber type; nickel movement, lever escapement, wolfs tooth winding, pin set, stem wind and set; the cover applied with a gold Russian Imperial double-headed eagle on a blue enameled ground, the inside cover engraved with a presentation inscription in Russian: To the radio telegraphist C[harles] Hogger for participating in the rescue of the passengers of the SS Volturno in 1913, the factory signed cuvette "taber type" no. 152335, the back cover engraved with the monogram of Emperor Nicholas II, in the original red leather presentation case applied with a Russian Imperial double-headed eagle. 52 mm.
In October 1913, the ocean liner SS Volturno caught fire and sank in the North Atlantic. Eleven ships responded to her SOS signals, including the SS Czar, a ship of the Russian American Line, on which Charles Hogger was the radio operator. Despite heavy seas and gale force winds, more than five hundred passengers and crewmen were rescued.
Hogger received the present lot as a personal gift from Emperor Nicholas II in gratitude for his efforts rescuing the passengers of the Volturno.

C