Swiss. A fine, rare and unusual 18K gold openface quarter repeating cylinder watch with two jaquemarts, diamond-set Russian Imperial double-headed eagle and presentation box

With period fitted brown leather and gilt floral and foliage decorated presentation box.

The presence of the double-headed eagle, the coat-of-arms of the Russian Empire, suggests that the present watch was ordered by the Imperial Court and given as a reward to a deserving officer or servant.

Originally a Byzantine symbol, the double-headed eagle was adopted by the Russian tsars in the 15th century. The two heads face East and West symbolize the geographic position of Russia, a symbol seen as an allegory sometimes for unity, and sometimes for absolute monarchy, a form of government in which the king and queen have power over everything. Most commonly, the double-headed eagle is associated with the monarchy, featuring prominently in the Russian Imperial and Coronation regalia.