The Maker: A. Robert Stauffer & Fils The "AR" Hallmark: The inside of the case back features an elegant "AR" hallmark inside a shield. In Swiss horology, this specific maker's mark belongs directly to Auguste Robert-Stauffer. The Movement: The movement is a textbook, high-grade Swiss radial layout featuring beautiful frosted-gilt bridges. The balance wheel is ticking alongside meticulously placed ruby endstones, fully validating the "Patent Lever / Ruby Jewelled" promise on the cuvette dust cover. The Serial Number Pair: The inner dust cover is stamped with Nº 1530, and the outer 18k case back is stamped 123530 with a singular "0" underneath. Aesthetics & Craftsmanship The Dial: The front of the watch features a breathtaking, solid-gold ornate dial with a deep, rose-engine-turned pattern and raised floral engraving. The dark, blued-steel spade hands contrast beautifully against the gold backdrop. The Hunter Case: The solid 18k yellow gold outer case features master-level "briolette" style deeply carved scrollwork. The front cover hosts an unengraved central cartouche shield meant for a family crest or a monogram, while the back cover features a spectacularly detailed bouquet of hand-engraved flowers. A winding key moves the hands and the watch runs when wound with a winding key. It is in a small, velvet pouch from Aurem Pty Ltd at the Dymocks Building in Sydney.
About 4 centimeters in diameter and close to 1 centimeter in depth.
Auguste Robert Stauffer & Fils - An 18k Full Hunting Key Wind Pocket Watch, Swiss, Circa 1890,
the floral scroll engraved 40mm case with blank shield cartouche reverse, opening to reveal a gold rose-engine-turned pattern dial with raised floral engraving, black Roman numerals with subsidiary seconds dial, blued steel hands, Swiss lever movement, inner dust cover is stamped with Nº 1530, and the outer 18k case back is stamped 123530 makers mark AR, with winding key.
Auguste Robert-Stauffer and later Auguste Robert-Stauffer & Fils, was a 19th-century Swiss watchmaker based in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, famous for crafting fine antique pocket and pendant watches