Bovet Silver Chinese Market Pocket Watch

Inventory Number: PW2303020LC

Made in Fleurier, Switzerland, circa 1835 signed Bovet. 56mm, silver open-face case. Case No. 6538, fully engraved gilt Chinese caliber, a rare lever-duplex escapement and features jumping center seconds hand. Accompanied by winding key.

On loan from the private collection of Mr. Yeung Sau Wong.

The Chinese market pocket watch is the pocket watch that specially made for Chinese market in the 18th to 19th centuries by European watchmakers. It was originally used as a tribute to the Qing Dynasty royal family, and spread among the public gradually. Many cases were generally made of silver, brass, gilt brass or silver, and decorated with painted enamel with pearls or precious jewels.

The movements are so called “Chinese Caliber”, and many of them were engraved with beautiful patterns such as scrolled flowers and foliage, the designs were significantly recognizable. From the Chinese collectors ‘view, these kinds of pocket watches are called "The big-eight pieces”. (There is such a statement that the movement was usually designed to consist of a barrel and seven main components, eight pieces in total, and “eight" is considered as the homonym of "fortune" in Chinese, so they were gradually known as "The big-eight pieces" from the 19th century in Chinese.