A very rare Russian Imperial presentation antique silver pocket watch, circa 1908, with enameled cipher of Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich (1850-1908) beneath Russian Royal crown.

Grand Duke Alexei, son of czar Alexander II and uncle of Nicholas II, was General Admiral and Commander-in-chief of the Russian Navy.

Diameter 2 1/8 in. (5,5 cm)

Red guilloche enamel letter ‘A’ in Old Slavonic script interlaces with champleve enamel blue anchor.

The shape of the letter ‘A’ is very similar to ‘A’ in the cipher of Alexei’s older brother – czar Alexander III.

All original enamel. No restoration. Minor scratches from pocket wear.

The movement’s cover is engraved in Russian with the name of Russian supplier ‘P.G. Zelentsov’

The following document, on the letterhead of the Commander of the yacht STRELA, that belonged to His Imperial Highness General Admiral, dated July 25, 1908, states that Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich awarded four sailors of the yacht crew with silver watches with his cipher on lids. The document was sent to the Guard Equipage (elite Navy unit in charge of Imperial yachts).