Mega Rare Antique Silver Chinese Automation Duplex Pocket Watch Mint Serviced

  
This pocket watch witnessed centuries of history and were manufactured some 200 years ago. These artistic timepiece once brought together the Bovet family and the Great Qing Empire. Since then, collectors around the world have been interested in these historical pocket watches. During the course of the early China Trade period and into the mid nineteenth century the Imperial Chinese government and upper classes of the Chinese population considered very little of what Western society produced to be of any interest or value. However, clocks and pocketwatches were one exception and from the earliest days of the China Trade these mechanical devices were in demand in the Celestial Empire, and became a considerable status symbol for those who could afford them.

In the early 19th century, wealthy Chinese often members of the imperial family and their court would place special orders for European-made pocket watches, often lavishly decorated with enameled motifs representing Western pastoral scenes. The best-known manufacturers were Ilbery of London, and Bovet and Vaucher Fleurier in Switzerland. British and Swiss watchmakers developed a special very impressive pocketwatch for the Chinese market which was of large size and featured a highly engraved and sculpted gilded movement skeletonized to display the mechanical excellence of the timepiece. Since these pocketwatches were luxury items they were of high quality with well jeweled movements.

These timepieces also featured a large center-mounted-sweep-second hand which would count the seconds for its owner. The earliest movements of these special watches had'Duplex' escapements. Unfortunately the duplex system was not especially reliable or accurate. Fortunately for all concerned the reliable an accurate'Lever' escapement was developed in the early 19th century (and is still used in mechanical watches).

It is interesting to note the Swiss branch of'BOVET' is still producing luxury timepieces. This most impressive watch was built by Edourad Bovet who established his watchmaking business in London in 1822 and specialized in making special timepieces for the Chinese market. It is thought Bovet established his business in London so that he could safely maintain a supply of watches to China via the ships of the British East India Company. For a most interesting article on Bovet and his China Trade watches.

This beautiful, extremely Rare watch features a well jeweled, engraved, and sculpted thirty hour lever escapement key wind & key set movement, the highest quality of its type at its time of production. The escapement's lever is extra long to display a maximum of movement, and its end is shaped like a Chinese pike. It was believed the pike and hatchets would protect the mechanics of the piece from internal demons.

Those experienced in the restoration and care of antique timepieces can well attest to the existence of demons within mechanical devices. The watch was built with a fine porcelain dial and mounted in a silver case with hallmarks.

The inside of the case bears Chinese markings. The Dial decorated with enameled motif representing Western pastoral scene and has four automation features. Center sweep seconds hand, Windmill (with moving sails), fisherman (with moving fish on the fishing rod) and moving mock pendulum. Condition: This handsome watch is in excellent original condition. The movement runs well and keeps an excellent time. The dial is excellent and the blued steel hands are original. The case is excellent showing very little wear and very crisp markings. This is an exceptionally fine original example of a fascinating, scarce, exotic, and historical China Trade artifact for the collector.

Dimensions: overall height 3 1/4", case diameter 2 1/4", dial 2 1/16, movement diameter. Chinese automated duplex - YouTube. The item "Mega Rare Antique Silver Chinese Automation Duplex Pocket Watch Mint Serviced" is in sale since Tuesday, July 2, 2019.

This item is in the category "Jewelry & Watches\Watches, Parts & Accessories\Pocket Watches\Antique". The seller is "ticker-ticker" and is located in Chatham, New Jersey. This item can be shipped worldwide.

• Country Made: Swiss
• Country/Region of Manufacture: Switzerland
• Escapement Type: Lever
• Pocket Watch Size: 18
• Movement: Mechanical (Key-winding)
• Year of Manufacture: 1840-1849
• Features: Easy To Read
• Closure: Open Face
• Brand: Handmade