Pocket watch · Chinese market open face pocket watch

Bovet Fleurier 19th Century Open Face Pocket Watch for the Chinese Market

Partially verified

According to Bonhams, this 19th-century open face pocket watch is attributed to Bovet Fleurier and was produced for the Chinese market. The movement side, visible beneath an inner glazed cover, exhibits richly engraved gilt bridges and balance cock alongside blued screws and jewelled pivots. An index regulator scale is marked 'FAST' and 'SLOW', and a lower plate segment bears an engraved cartouche with Chinese characters. The interior of the opened hinged metallic case back reveals stamped maker or case marks including 'LF&Co' alongside numbered punch marks and an engraved decorative medallion.

Open case back and glazed cuvette displaying the engraved gilt movement and inner case cover — Bonhams. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source: www.bonhams.com
Category: Pocket watch · Chinese market open face pocket watch
Maker / attribution: Bovet Fleurier
Reference: Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier: 281
Source-reported date: 19th century
Country: Switzerland

Source-reported attribution and specifications are not independent authentication. A listing does not establish present ownership, current display, availability or permission to reproduce.

Object description

Attribution and Destination Market

The auction cataloguing identifies the lot as a 19th-century open face pocket watch attributed to Bovet Fleurier, stated to have been produced for the Chinese market. The sale occurred at Bonhams in Oxford.

On the movement plate, visible beneath an inner glazed cover, an oval cartouche is engraved with Chinese characters, consistent with the reported destination market.

Evidence for this section

“Bovet Fleurier: A 19th century open face pocket watch for the Chinese market”
“Oval cartouche bearing Chinese characters visible on the movement plate.”

Movement Architecture and Finishing

The watch features ornately engraved gilt bridges and an engraved balance cock. The visible calibre architecture conforms to styles traditionally associated with Swiss watches produced for the Chinese trade.

The index regulator scale is marked with the English terms 'FAST' and 'SLOW', and the movement is assembled with jewelled pivots and blued screws.

Evidence for this section

“Ornately engraved gilt bridges and balance cock typical of Chinese market calibres.”
“Regulator scale marked with 'FAST' and 'SLOW'.”

Case Configuration and Markings

The open face pocket watch is fitted with a hinged metallic outer case back and an inner glazed protective cover over the movement.

The interior of the hinged outer case back exhibits stamped impressions, including the maker or sponsor mark 'LF&Co' and a circular decorative central cartouche, alongside punch marks.

Evidence for this section

“Hinged outer case back interior bears stamps including 'LF&Co' and a circular decorative central cartouche.”

Open research questions

What specific metal standard or assay marks are indicated inside the case back, and what is the alloy composition?
What exact Chinese characters are inscribed in the oval cartouche on the movement plate?
What are the design details and condition of the dial and hands, which are not visible in the provided case-back photograph?
Which entity or case maker is represented by the mark 'LF&Co'?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Bovet Fleurier 19th Century Open Face Pocket Watch for the Chinese Market
Field	Source-reported value	Source quotation
Maker attribution	Bovet Fleurier	“Bovet Fleurier: A 19th century open face pocket watch for the Chinese market”
Lot number	281	“Lot 281”
Period	19th century	“A 19th century open face pocket watch for the Chinese market”
Auction sale date	7 January 2014	“Jewellery 7 January 2014, 11:00 GMT Oxford”
Auction price realized	£812.50 inc. premium	“Sold for £812.50 inc. premiu”

Visible details

Ornately engraved gilt bridges and balance cock typical of Chinese market calibres.
Regulator scale marked with 'FAST' and 'SLOW'.
Oval cartouche bearing Chinese characters visible on the movement plate.
Hinged outer case back interior bears stamps including 'LF&Co' and a circular decorative central cartouche.

Research qualifications

Dial side is not shown in the available photograph.
Case metal composition is not specified in the auction record excerpt.

Photograph identity and source facts were screened before import; rights clearance remains pending.

Consulted source

Bonhams : Bovet Fleurier: A 19th century open face pocket watch for the Chinese market

Reviewed 2026-10-21 · Record 9dafd43e26

Terms in this record

Glossary explanations for terms named in this object’s record.