18K Gold Pocket Clock Huguenin et Fils, 1880

Wonderful antique pocket watch with 18-carat solid-gold casing and silver face, decorated with antique-cut diamonds. The watch is signed by Huguenin et Fils and was made in Switzerland in 1880. It is quite a special piece in very good condition the movement has been overhauled and tuned in order to guarantee a perfect working order. The front gold cap bears a lovely hand-engraved decoration and is partially lacquered in black; in the center it shows off a fine engraved motive decorated with diamonds. Some of the diamonds are missing but in general this decoration preserves all its original romantic charm. Inside the cap we can see the mark that indicates the golds carats: 18K. Under the front cap we find the amazing engraved silver face, decorated with gold details and with black Roman numbers. It mounts straight cobalt-blue metal hands and a secondary hand too. The face is very baroque and delicate, and exudes a remarkable and charismatic beauty. The rear cap bears a mark inside with the initials JV; we can also see the serial number 55596 engraved in the metal. Under this cap we find the dustcap with the manufacturers name (Huguenin et Fils) engraved in an elegant cursive lettering. Inside it bears the engraved serial name stated before. As for the movement, it is signed by the maker and we can see the serial number engraved in it too. This antique Huguenin-et-Fils pocket watch stands out for its amazing decoration, its richness and its great working order.Huguenin et Fils History The Swiss company G. A. Huguenin et Fils started out in 1857, when Fritz Huguenin founded a company together with his brother Albert to decorate pocket watch cases. In 1888 began to manufacture medals and engraved plates too. The Huguenin brothers specialized in nielloed-silver pieces. In 1899 the firm moved to a new location in Route Bellevue, 32, Le Locle. In the early 20th century, the company was taken over by the three sons of Fritz Huguenin Huguenin (Georges-Fritz, Henri-Edouard y Paul-Auguste): in 1013 they registered the Nielaschef brand name. In 1932 the company changed its name for Huguenin Frères & Cie, and in 1955 the branch dedicated to the manufacture of watch cases was sold to another company. Then the companys relationship with the watchmaking industry came to an end; from then on and to our days, Huguenin just makes medals, trophies and insignias.