Niello Repeater Pocket Watch, Swiss 1906

Walter Meylan Chaux de Fond. A silver niello open-faced quarter repeating watch Swiss circa 1906, gilt lever movement, white enamel dial, Arabic numerals, outer minute track, subsidiary seconds dial, gilt spade hands, niello silver case applied with reptile skin pattern and vacant cartouche, repeater button at 3 o'clock, dial signed, inscribed cuvette, diameter 2.13 in.

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Niello - A compound made up of lead silver copper and sulphur that is black in colour, and applied to the engraved areas of silver items, thus highlighting the engraving by making the black niello detail stand out from the silver background. It was used on edged weapons from the Renaisance onwards, and also by Russian crafstmen of the19th century.
Circa - A Latin term meaning 'about', often used in the antique trade to give an approximate date for the piece, usually considered to be five years on either side of the circa year. Thus, circa 1900 means the piece was made about 1900, probably between 1895 and 1905. The expression is sometimes abbreviated to c.1900.
Cartouche - An ornamental panel in the form of of a shield, oval or rectangular scroll with curling edges. It may be carved into the back of a chair or the top of a sideboard, or present on a piece of silver or jewellery, and contain the initials of the original owner, heraldic symbols, or some other inscription, such as the details of a presentation.

In ceramics the term defines the central area of a vase or similar with a decorative border in one of the shapes above, into which a decorative scene or figures have been painted.
Movement - The technical name for the workings of a clock or watch, and does not include the dial or case.

This item has been included into following indexes:

pocket watches, case type
- open face, silver case 570
- silver case 905
pocket watches, country - Swiss made 463
pocket watches, features - repeater / repeating 107