Juvet – Pair of Silver Watches Léo Juvet

Juvet – Pair of Silver Watches Léo Juvet, Shanghai, No. 129165 & 141698. Made for the Chinese market, circa 1875. Very fine, pair of silver pocket watches with center seconds. Accompanied by the original morocco fitted case and an Alex Ross & Co. key. Two-body, “Consular”, polished, spring-loaded and glazed cuvette. White enamel, narrow radial Roman numerals, outer minute divisions. Blued steel ovoid hands. 47 mm (21’’), gilded and entirely foliate engraved, “Chinese” calibre, 10 jewels, free-standing barrel, counterpoised lateral lever escapement, monometallic balance, blued steel flat balance spring, index regulator. Dials, cases and movements signed Juvet in Chinese characters. Diam. 56 mm. Notes Although most of the watches and snuffboxes destined for the Chinese market were made in pairs, the majority of them were separated. It is rare to find a pair still together. Juvet One of the important Swiss horological families working for the Chinese market. Edouard Juvet (1820-1883) established his workshop in Buttes in 1842, but in 1844 moved to Fleurier. He began making "Chinese" watches in 1856. Edouard’s sons Ami-Louis and Léo travelled to China to work in the family firm. In Shanghai, the Juvets were rivaled only by the Bovets, yet the two families maintained friendly relations. The Maison Juvet prospered, opening branches in Tien-Tsin and Saigon. In 1873, Edouard Juvet registered a trademark in Chinese characters which was used on the company’s products. Literatu