18ct yellow gold and enamel set open face pocket watch, made for the Turkish Market. Made 1840's

18ct yellow gold and enamel set open face pocket watch, made for the Turkish Market. Made 1840's

Regular price £15,000.00 GBP
Regular price Sale price £15,000.00 GBP
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Information

  • Brand: SWISS (unsigned)
  • Year: 1840's
  • Model: N/A
  • Reference: N/A
  • Calibre: N/A
  • Movement: Manual
  • Material: 18ct yellow gold
  • Features/complications: Open face case with gold and enamel featuring enamel detailing around the circumference, surrounding the dial and on the bow. Centre of case back painted with enamel scene depicting a boat on the river Bosphorus at sunset. Gilded dust cover with apertures for winding and setting
  • Dial: White enamel dial with outer minute track featuring Eastern Arabic numerals with steel skeletonised hands.
  • Case dimensions: Diameter 46 mm | Thickness 10 mm
  • Bracelet/strap: N/A
  • Accessories: N/A
  • SKU: 2244

Essay

 Watchmakers from Geneva, Paris and Blois initiated trade relations with the Ottoman Empire in the beginning of the 17th century. Soon after, a colony of Geneva watchmakers was settled in Galata, a district of Constantinople reserved to the Westerners.

Among these colonials was Isaac Rousseau, the father of the philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau, presented in Les Confessions as “horologer du sérail”, meaning ‘’watchmaker at the service of the Sultan I’’.