Manufacturer: Piguet & Meylan Year: Circa 1820 Case No: 18160 Material: 18K yellow gold Calibre: Manual Dimensions: 51mm Diameter Signed: Movement stamped PM
Catalogue Essay
The present keywind yellow gold pocket watch is a very unusual piece for the period it was made. Produced in-around 1820, this thin and elegant pocket watch features a retrograde hour and a calendar. The silver dial is beautifully decorated with hobnail hand engine turned decoration. The construction of the dial is also very interesting as it is composed of two plates giving the two sections of the dial a fantastic depth. The reverse of the movement is stamped PM which allow us to identify this piece to Piguet Meylan. Both originally from the village of Le Chenit in the Vallée de Joux, Isaac-Daniel Piguet (1775-1841) and Philippe-Samuel Meylan (1772-1845) came to Geneva as young men, and formed a partnership, which lasted from 1811 to 1828. The company specialised in elaborate and beautifully decorated musical watches, including skeleton and automaton watches, and mechanical animals.
This pocket watch exults a design and complication that were at the time of production very daring but today look very similar to designs found in the creations of some of the best independent watchmakers.