Pocket watch · Quarter repeating cylinder pocket watch

J F Bautte et Cie Swiss Quarter Repeating Cylinder Pocket Watch

Partially verified

Reported by the source as dating to circa 1830 and signed by J F Bautte et Cie a Geneve, this open-face pocket watch features a 36 mm 18-carat gold case with heavily chased and engraved bezels. The dial exhibits a finely engine-turned central field bordered by a brushed chapter ring with black Roman numerals and gold Breguet-style hands. According to the source description, the watch is powered by a keywind gilt bar movement with a suspended going barrel, cylinder escapement, and a push pendant quarter repeating mechanism striking on two steel gongs.

Front view of an open-face pocket watch featuring an engine-turned dial and an intricately chased gold bezel — Watch Museum. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source: watchmuseum.org
Category: Pocket watch · Quarter repeating cylinder pocket watch
Maker / attribution: J F Bautte et Cie a Geneve
Reference: Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier: Source URL identifies the listing
Source-reported date: Circa 1830
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

Case Construction and Exterior Decoration

The pocket watch is configured in an open-face yellow gold case with a diameter reported by the source as 36 mm. Visual inspection reveals deeply chased foliate and scrollwork relief along the bezel, with matching chased ornamentation continuing onto the pendant neck and ribbed bow. Atop the pendant assembly, a protruding push-piece is fitted.

According to the source description, the case is constructed from 18-carat gold and features an engine-turned back centered with a small monogram. These reverse case elements, along with the interior cuvette, are not visible in the provided front-facing photograph and rely on seller documentation.

Evidence for this section

“Open-face yellow gold case with deeply chased foliate and scrollwork relief along the bezel.”
“Protruding push-piece atop the pendant bow assembly.”
“Diameter: 36 mm”
“The 18-carat open face case is a masterpiece of craftsmanship, with intricately chased and engraved bezels and an engine-turned back, featuring a small‌ monogram‍ at its center”

Dial Display and Hands

The front dial displays a textured engine-turned center bordered by an inner ring, surrounded by a brushed metal chapter ring bearing painted black Roman hour numerals and outer minute marks.

Time is marked by open-tipped gold Breguet-style hands. While the source describes the dial as silver and engine-turned, specific metal alloy composition is not verified by visible hallmarks on the front dial plate.

Evidence for this section

“Engine-turned textured dial center surrounded by an inner circular border.”
“Brushed metal chapter ring with painted black Roman hour numerals and perimeter minute marks.”
“Gold Breguet-style open-tipped hour and minute hands.”
“The silver engine turned dial, adorned with Roman numerals and gold Breguet hands”

Movement and Mechanism Details

The internal mechanism is not depicted in the available photograph; all movement specifications originate from the seller listing. The source notes a small keywind gilt bar movement fitted with a suspended going barrel, a plain cock with a blue steel regulator, a plain three-arm gilt balance, and a blue steel spiral hairspring.

The escapement is described as having a polished steel cylinder and escape wheel. The chiming function is listed as a push-pendant quarter repeating mechanism striking on two rectangular-section polished steel gongs, wound and set through a signed gold cuvette.

Evidence for this section

“small keywind gilt bar ‍movement, complete⁣ with a suspended going barrel”
“plain ⁤cock with a blue steel regulator, complemented by a plain three-arm gilt balance and a blue steel spiral hairspring”
“polished steel cylinder and escape wheel”
“push pendant quarter repeating mechanism, equipped with two rectangular section polished steel gongs”
“wound and set through the signed gold⁣ cuvette”

Open research questions

What specific text and numbering are engraved on the gold cuvette, and does a movement or case serial number appear?
What gold purity hallmarks or maker's marks are stamped on the interior of the case back and cuvette?
What are the specific initials or design of the monogram engraved at the center of the case back?
Does direct examination confirm the rectangular profile of the repeating gongs and original components of the cylinder escapement?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for J F Bautte et Cie Swiss Quarter Repeating Cylinder Pocket Watch
Field	Source-reported value	Source quotation
Maker Signature	J F Bautte et Cie a Geneve	“Signed :J F Bautte et Cie a Geneve”
Date of Manufacture	Circa 1830	“Date of Manufacture: Circa 1830”
Diameter	36 mm	“Diameter: 36 mm”
Escapement	Polished steel cylinder and escape wheel	“polished steel cylinder and escape wheel”
Complication	Push pendant quarter repeating mechanism with two polished steel gongs	“push pendant quarter repeating mechanism, equipped with two rectangular section polished steel gongs”
Case Material	18-carat gold	“The 18-carat open face case”
Case Back Ornamentation	Engine-turned back with a small central monogram	“engine-turned back, featuring a small‌ monogram‍ at its center”

Visible details

Open-face yellow gold case with deeply chased foliate and scrollwork relief along the bezel.
Matching chased decoration on the pendant neck and ribbed bow.
Engine-turned textured dial center surrounded by an inner circular border.
Brushed metal chapter ring with painted black Roman hour numerals and perimeter minute marks.
Gold Breguet-style open-tipped hour and minute hands.
Protruding push-piece atop the pendant bow assembly.

Research qualifications

Movement, inner cuvette signature, and case back are not visible in the provided image; mechanisms and signatures are source-reported.
Case composition of 18-carat gold is reported by the source and cannot be independently confirmed from the image alone.

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

Consulted source

SWISS Quarter Repeating Cylinder Pocket Watch - 1830 » Watch Museum: Discover The World Of Antique & Vintage Pocket Watches

Reviewed 2026-10-21 · Record 7f07cee773

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