This is just so beautiful and is so evocative of the Art Nouveau period.
In 18ct Solid gold with French Hallmarks, this fabulous working watch is a piece of Art History and how lovely to be able to wear it around your neck.
Th front of the watch is decorated with a stylised naturalistic flower in two colour gold (green & gold) with whiplash leaves and an Art Nouveau motif.
The rear is the open faced watch, this seems much more practical to me without the faff of getting a penknife out to open another cover just to see the time. The face is cream enamel with a black Roman numeral dial and gold jeweled enamel points for each minute. The hand are pierced black metalwork and it has a glass cover.For a watch that is well over 100 years old (C.1890) it keeps fabulous time and is wound up using the little stem at the top (simply wind until you feel a little resistance as you would with the old fashioned wrist watches).
Originally this watch would have hung from a little brooch (you often see these on Ebay) but I think it is more practical to have it on a chain and have found a good 9ct one from the same period and attached a watch "dog" clip to suspend it from.I have opened the back but the makers mark is obscurred by the movement. There is the usual fast / slow (or in this case in French!) adjuster but it keeps great time anyway.Condition is excellent with the exception of a small "ding" on the side which would not be viseable when worn and a very very tiny one at the front - again barely viseable but I have taken a couple of pictures of these - see below.
This piece comes with the lovely Cardinel purple period Antique box from Gardener & Gardener of the Burlington Arcade London - pictured below.Size is: Diameter of watch is  2.7cm (just over 1") with the winder it is 4cm (just over 1 1/2") The dog clip with bail is 2cm (1 3/4").
Weight: 15.4g Watch only
Chain: Fastens with a barrel catch and is 21" (53.5cm)
Weight: 7.5g Chain and dog clip