MONTRE DE GOUSSET A CADRAN OUVERT EN OR SERTIE... Lot 22

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 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 £5100-6800 US$7000-9300 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.