Rare Gold Cabriolet Watch, c. 1890

Dealer description — WatchMuseum.org shop

The Rare Gold Cabriolet Watch, dating back to circa 1890, is a remarkable testament to the exquisite craftsmanship of the late 19th century, encapsulating both elegance and innovation in its design. This exceptional timepiece features a rare reversible cabriolet gold hunter pair case, which is a masterpiece in itself, allowing the watch to be worn as either a full hunter or an open face watch. The movement is a sophisticated three-quarter plate keyless design, adorned with a damascened nickelled finish, and includes 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, signed by the renowned Elgin Nat’l Watch Co., is elegantly designed with subsidiary seconds and Roman numerals, perfectly complemented by blue steel Breguet hands, adding a touch of classic sophistication. The standout feature of this watch is its 18-carat gold cabriolet case, intricately decorated with engine turning and floral engravings, which can be used independently or combined with the three-section gold outer case. This versatility allows the watch to transform from a conventional open face design with a beautifully engraved scene of a couple in a garden on the back, to a full hunter with a sprung front cover, opened by the winding crown. Such a rare case, likely originally crafted for a keywind movement, paired with a high-quality movement, makes this watch a truly special and collectible timepiece. The watch, with a diameter of 52 mm, remains in good condition, offering a glimpse into the luxurious elegance and mechanical ingenuity of a bygone era. 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