Chinese market silver pocket watch, any information please?

[amazingantiques]

Hi,
I have recently acquired a Chinese market silver pocket watch of which I know little about.
I have done some research and seen a few sell on eBay but have not seen one with the Chinese hallmarks or the markings to the movement and dial. Any information would be greatly appreciated.
Jim

 

[Ethan Lipsig]

I used to have a nearly identical watch, but the kanji (Chinese "letters") on the dial, movement, and case were different than the kanji on yours. I asked someone who can read kanji what the kanji on my watch said. "Nothing," was the reply. The same kanji was also on one side of the watch key. The other side said Leo Juvet Shanghai.

 

[kurtnz]

You have beautiful watch. Not rare, but very nice.
According to “Chapius”, from 1825 onwards China became an important market for the Swiss watch industry, with the appearance of Bovet of Fleurier, who were called the Bovet of China.
He persuaded the Chinese to adopt, among other things, a watch of the English type which had a special decoration and a particular caliber that become so popular that it came to be known as the Bovet.
From 1842 onward, a few Neuchatel firms, Vaucher, Dimier, Vrard, and later Juvet, as well as Voumard and Courvasier, both La Chaux de Fonds undertook the production of other varieties.
All the Swiss watch-making centres, in particular Bienne, St.Imier and Sonvilier, now entered the lists, and many adopted trade marks in Chinese characters.
Most of these watches had a duplex escapement, the balance with "devil" weights to chase away bad spirits. China was a very importent market for the Swiss watchmaking industry and there where millions of Chinese Market type watches exported.


I have a list of Chinese trade marks somewhere that could possibly put a maker to your watch. I just have problems locating it as I have moved a lot of stuff and somewhere in all that lot is the list.

There might be somebody else that can help you.
I can’t tell if your watch is a Duplex.
If the second hand jumps a second at the time instead of moving continuously it is a Duplex movement without the bat wings.

see this for an overview of the Chinese Market watch: http://www.rawbw.com/~hbv/horology/chinese.html

 

[Burkhard Rasch]

methinks it´s not a duplex but a lever of rectangled design.HTH Lovely watch btw.congrats!
Burkhard

 

[Philip Poniz]

An interesting watch, one of the latest sold to the Chinese market. This one was made by the Leo Juvet company, run, at the time, by the Leo's widow or under her name. The case form and the caliber are pretty much the same as the 1870s but the watch dates from the 1920s. They were quite popular and made in hundreds of thousands.

Philip Poniz

 

[artbissell]

I have identical in appearance 35mm movement but with bat wing balance silver hunter case of 44 mm. Seems unusually small although with same intricate fine engraving. Ruby endstone only visible jewel. Was this a common size for these? Intended for the ladies? Repeat photo for this identical subject movement that seems to be much larger. artb

 

[artbissell]

Learned from a friend my small sized JUVET (actually 37mm diameter movement) is an unusual old one 1870+ intended for general market as well as for CHINA. He has seen and worked on many, but never one of this small size. It will get its first ever service soon with before and after photos. Was told these odd movement designs are merely mechanical toys rather than serious time keepers so, like this one, commonly little used. artbissell

 

[Audemars]

A very important market indeed for the Swiss.
Here is an extract from Louis Audemars-Valette's MS:

".............If the Louis Audemars business had been sufficiently well capitalized to set up enough outlets and stock depots, this development could have become very important, in a land as vast as China - where it was fashionable to wear two watches".

P

 

[Logan2468]

You're watch is actually very similar to a watch I own. I believe it MAY be a Juvet. Here's a photo of mine. A Chinese watch collector told me the writing on this is Juvet and is a "big eight pieces" model. Yours is similar. Don't beleive it's a Duplex. A lever Escapement.
regards,
logan

 

[artbissell]

LOGAN: THANKS for showing yours. I am confusing this good thread by stating my little one is like the duplicated pictured one. Yours is definitely like it in all respects. Mine is definitely a duplex. Decided to not do a thorough service, after determining it is functional as is and will not be used. Does not have any Chinese marking as your's has. In fact only marking is large elaborate DUPLEX on inner brass cover rather than glass. Diameter of case is 44mm. Yours much larger 50mm+? Will add a photo tomorrow. My reason for disrupting this thread was to find if the little one was unusual and apparently it is but not rare. artbissell

 

[artbissell]

Here the unusual small sized old duplex movement. Will start another thread about it. artbissell

 

[Logan2468]

Artbissell although the watches may not be VERY rare they are still sought after among collectors. I myself love them and find it a great pleasure to find one. maybe start a new thread for yours so we don't stray too far off topic from amazingantiques original post. I'm sure many members will be more than happy to help you with your watch! o

 

[Logan2468]

Seems we replied at the exact same time! Start a new thread and we can continue the conversation there