Rare French gilt and rock crystal Renaissance pendant watch Circa 1650

Gilt-brass octagonal pre-balance spring verge
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A rare presumably French fire-gilded brass and rock crystal single-handed pre-balance spring Renaissance pendant watch, circa 1650. An octagonal full plate movement, chain and fusee, verge escapement, plain two-arm brass balance without balance spring and a floral decorated balance cock. A very Puritan-designed brass dial, applied silver chapter ring with Roman hours and one hand. An octagonal case with bevelled rock crystal mounted in a fire-gilded brass frame, a flower-shaped pendant fitted with a loose ring.
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Dimensions: 33 x 50 x 24 mm
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Weight: 58 g
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Signed: No name
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By the end of the 16th century, geometrically shaped watches such as square, hexagonal, trapezoidal and circular timepieces became fashionable. Octagonal watches began to appear around 1575. Although most circular and octagonal watches have circular movements, the shape of this movement is octagonal. The watch cases were usually made from brass or silver, only very rarely were they created from hollowed-out rock crystal or amethyst.