Rare Gold Cabriolet Watch – Circa 1890

This beautiful late 19th Century lever watch features a rare reversible cabriolet gold hunter pair case. The movement is a three quarter plate keyless design with a damascened nickelled finish. It has a going barrel, a plain cock with a polished steel regulator, a compensation balance with a blue steel spiral hairspring, and a club foot lever escapement. The white enamel dial is signed and has subsidiary seconds and Roman numerals, complemented by blue steel Breguet hands.

The standout feature of this watch is its unique 18 carat gold cabriolet case. This case can be used in two different ways - as a full hunter or as an open face watch. The inner gold case is beautifully decorated with engine turning and floral engravings on the back and a matching engine turned middle. It also has a gold cuvette. This inner case can be used on its own or placed in the three-section gold outer case. When the dial is visible, the watch appears to be a conventional open face design, with an engraved back depicting a lovely scene of a couple in a garden. Alternatively, when the back of the inner case is visible, the watch transforms into a full hunter, and the winding crown can be used to open the sprung front cover.

This type of case is quite rare and was likely originally made for a keywind movement. The combination of the unique case design and the high-quality movement make this a truly special timepiece.

Signed Elgin Nat'l Watch Co.
Date of Manufacture: Circa 1890
Diameter: 52 mm
Condition: Good