Bovet Fleurier Chinese Market Pocket Watch, circa 1840
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1840
This 18-karat gold and enamel pocket watch, numbered 699, was manufactured by Bovet, Fleurier for the Chinese market around 1840. The piece measures 57 mm in diameter.
It features a three-body Empire-style case with a back enamel panel displaying doves and summer flowers on a pink ground. The band is decorated with champlevé enamel, and the bezels, pendant, and bow are set with split pearls. The dial is white enamel with Roman numerals and blued steel spade hands. Internally, the watch contains a polished steel Chinese-calibre movement with a free-standing barrel, a single-wheel duplex escapement with a polished steel escape wheel, and a three-arm balance featuring wedge-shaped, partially blued steel weights, plus a regulator and flat balance spring.
The watch is signed on both the dial and the movement. It includes a hinged gold glazed cuvette and is reported to be in very good condition.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Date
- circa 1840
- Type
- Centre second pocket watch
- Hands
- Blued steel spade
- Maker
- Bovet, Fleurier (Val de Travers)
- Diameter
- 57 mm
- Condition
- Very good
- Escapement
- Single wheel duplex
- Case Material
- 18 ct. gold and enamel
- Serial Number
- 699
- Place recorded
- Switzerland
- Maker / attribution
- Bovet, Fleurier
Design
- Dial and Hands
- The dial is made of white enamel and displays Roman numerals to indicate the hours. The time is displayed via blued steel hands in a spade configuration. The dial bears the signature of the maker. The diameter of the watch measures 57 mm. The auction description reports that the object is in very good condition.
- Visible features
- • The back case depicts two white doves among floral arrangements on a pink enamel background. • The watch includes a pendant and bow bordered with split pearls. • The movement utilizes a Chinese-calibre design with a free-standing barrel. • The balance wheel is fitted with wedge-shaped, partially blued steel weights.
- Movement and Escapement
- The movement is identified as a polished steel Chinese-calibre type. It incorporates a free-standing barrel and a single-wheel duplex escapement equipped with a polished steel escape wheel. The balance assembly features three arms with wedge-shaped and partially blued steel weights. The regulator and flat balance spring provide the timing control for the mechanism. The movement is signed by Bovet.
- Case and Enamel Decoration
- The watch case is constructed in a three-body Empire design crafted from 18-karat gold. The band of the watch is decorated with champlevé enamel work. The bezels, pendant, and bow are set with split pearls, which surround the front and back of the timepiece. The back of the case features an enamel panel painted with a composition of doves and summer flowers set against a pink ground. The internal construction includes a hinged gold glazed cuvette to protect the movement components.
Identification
- Serial number
- 699
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: The specific identity of the enamel artist is not stated.
- Research required: The provenance beyond its manufacture for the Chinese market is not documented.