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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Open-face pocket watch

Edouard Juvet, Fleurier gold and enamel open face centre seconds pocket watch

Partially verified

This 62mm open face centre seconds pocket watch by Edouard Juvet of Fleurier is dated by the auction house to circa 1850 and described as made for the Chinese market. Bonhams states the watch features a key-wound, jewelled engraved gilt 'Chinese Calibre' lever movement with a pierced balance cock and three-arm balance with blued steel weights. The white enamel dial presents black Roman numerals, outer 1/5th second divisions, and blued steel hands. The gold case incorporates multi-coloured champlevé enamel foliate ornamentation across the bezel, pendant, and bow, alongside a reported later painted river scene on the back and a hinged exhibition cuvette.

Dial and bezel view of the open face gold and enamel pocket watch
Dial and bezel view of the open face gold and enamel pocket watch — Bonhams. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
www.bonhams.com
Category
Pocket watch · Open-face pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Edouard Juvet
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
305
Source-reported date
Circa 1850
Country
Switzerland
Source-reported serial
106

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

Dial and Exterior Presentation

Direct visual inspection of the open face shows a white enamel dial featuring elongated black Roman numerals and an outer track divided into 1/5th seconds. Time is displayed via blued steel spade hour and minute hands accompanied by a counterpoised sweep centre seconds hand. The front casing exhibits a gold bezel, pendant neck, and bow decorated with polychrome champlevé enamel scroll and floral patterns.

According to the auction cataloguing, the piece features a 62mm polished round case bearing case number 106, with fine multi-coloured champlevé enamel foliate decoration extending to the band and bow, as well as a hinged exhibition cuvette.

Evidence for this section
  • “White enamel dial featuring elongated black Roman numerals and an outer track divided into 1/5th seconds.”
  • “Gold bezel, pendant neck, and bow decorated with polychrome champlevé enamel scroll and floral patterns.”
  • “fine multi-coloured champlevé enamel foliate decoration to band and bow”

Reported Movement and Internal Mechanics

The cataloguing describes the movement as a signed, key wind, jewelled engraved gilt 'Chinese Calibre' lever movement. The description further notes that the movement is equipped with a pierced and engraved balance cock and a three-arm balance with blued steel weights.

Because the provided photograph only displays the front dial side, these movement components, decorative engravings, and signatures cannot be directly verified from the image and remain source-reported claims.

Evidence for this section
  • “Jewelled engraved gilt 'Chinese Calibre' lever movement”
  • “pierced and engraved balance cock, three arm balance with blued steel weights”
  • “movement signed 62mm.”

Caseback Decoration and Documentation Discrepancies

The auction description records a later fine painted scene on the back depicting a boat on a river. The reverse of the case is not visible in the provided image, precluding independent confirmation of the scene, its execution, or its condition.

The watch is catalogued as made for the Chinese market and assigned a date of circa 1850. The accompanying lot footnotes describe the firm of Edouard Juvet—founded in Buttes, Switzerland in 1842—and its trade in China starting in Shanghai in 1860, but specific archival documentation linking case number 106 to an exact production date is not recorded in this source.

Evidence for this section
  • “later fine painted scene to the back depicting a boat on river scene”
  • “made for the Chinese market Case No.106, Circa 1850”
  • “Juvet was founded by renowned watch maker Edouard Juvet in Buttes, Switzerland in 1842.”

Open research questions

  • What specific imagery, signatures, or hallmarks appear on the unpictured reverse caseback featuring the painted boat scene?
  • Does the gilt movement bear a Chinese script hallmark (such as 'You Wei') or Latin signature for Edouard Juvet?
  • What documentary or stylistic evidence was utilized by the auction house to assign the circa 1850 date to case number 106?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Edouard Juvet, Fleurier gold and enamel open face centre seconds pocket watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
Case Number106“Case No.106”
Movement CalibreChinese Calibre lever movement“Jewelled engraved gilt 'Chinese Calibre' lever movement”
DialWhite enamel with Roman numerals“white enamel dial with black Roman numerals and outer 1/5th second divisions”
HandsBlued steel spade hands and centre seconds“blued steel spade hands and centre seconds”
Case DecorationMulti-coloured champlevé enamel foliate decoration“fine multi-coloured champlevé enamel foliate decoration to band and bow”
Case Diameter62mm“movement signed 62mm.”
Caseback DecorationLater painted river scene“later fine painted scene to the back depicting a boat on river scene”
Inner CuvetteHinged exhibition cuvette“hinged exhibition cuvette”

Visible details

  • White enamel dial featuring elongated black Roman numerals and an outer track divided into 1/5th seconds.
  • Gold bezel, pendant neck, and bow decorated with polychrome champlevé enamel scroll and floral patterns.
  • Blued steel spade hour and minute hands accompanied by a counterpoised sweep centre seconds hand.

Research qualifications

  • The movement and the painted back cover mentioned in the lot description are not visible in the provided image.
  • The bezel of another watch appears partially in the upper right background of the photograph.

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

Consulted source

Bonhams : Edouard Juvet, Fleurier. A fine and rare gold and enamel key wind open face centre seconds pocket watch made for the Chinese market Case No.106, Circa 1850

Reviewed 2026-10-21 · Record b0f93fba0a

Terms in this record

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

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