Bichler & Hartmann à Genève

Bichler & Hartmann à Genève, circa 1850. Fine 18 ct. gold and enamel, diamond-set folding lorgnette with concealed watch. Spring-loaded front cover decorated with a diamond-set leaf set on translucent imperial blue enamel, back and the handle engraved in foliage against an engine-turned background. 18.2 x 32 mm, rectangular, gilt brass bar calibre, 8 jewels, cylinder escapement, plain gilt brass three-arm balance, blued-steel flat balance spring.Signed on the dial plate.Dim. 88 x 27 mm. Published in the Sandberg book, pages 478-479. Notes Bichler A.-J. Lot HartmannTowards the middle of the 19th century, they made form watches, lorgnettes, and spyglasses with watches, using movements with bridge calibre and cylinder escapements. They are recorded at Place des Bergues 3 in 1857.'Dictionnaire des Horlogers Genevois', by Osvaldo Patrizzi, Antiquorum Editions, Geneva, 1998.L' attenteSwiss, retailed by Thomas Brunker, 111 Grafton St., Dublin, circa 1870.Amusing 18 ct. gold and enamel concealed dial form watch with ivory painted miniature, in the shape of a padlock.C. Four-body, front cover with applied key-hole in black enamel over gold, back decorated with a painted ivory miniature behind a glazed frame, depicting an amourous shepherdess in a pastoral landscape. D. White enamel, Roman chapters, outer minute divisions. Blued-steel Breguet hands. M. 25.3 mm o, gilt brass bar calibre, 10 jewels, hanging barrel, cylinder escapement, plain gilt three-arm balance, flat balance s