CJ & A PERRENOUD & CIE, LE LOCLE

CJ &| A PERRENOUD &| CIE, LE LOCLE
Late 19th century

Gold savonnette pocket watch with minute-repeating chimes and automata

Case: round on hinge, both sides decorated with stylized motifs, on one side a blank monogrammed cartouche in the center, on the other a mythological figure in the form of a lion's head, gold bowl signed and numbered "C J et A. Perrenoud &| Cie à Le Locle No. 1699".
Dial: white enamel in the center with Roman numerals, railway minute track, small second hand, three automata around the rim, two women to indicate the hours, quarters and minutes, the young man on the lower right with his chisel, for the chime function, all the characters in the scene are painted on enamel, representing the arts, painting, sculpture, letters and music.
Movement: mechanical with crown winding, anchor escapement, bimetallic balance-spring, adjusting racket on the bridge of the advance/delay balance, chatonné jewels, three hammers for the carillon minute repeater chime

Diam. 55 mm
Gross weight 143 g

CJ &| A PERRENOUD &| Cie, Le Locle
Late 19th century
Gold hunting cased pocket watch with automaton and carillon minute repeater

In the late 19th century, Spain was an important market for Swiss watchmakers. Lovers of richly decorated cases combined with quality movements, Spanish collectors were particularly fond of striking mechanisms with automata, represented by polychrome enamelled figures.
Our example bears witness to this prosperous period for Swiss watches, made especially for the Hispanic market.