French gilt enamel and gemstone set verge watch Circa 1800

Gilt decorative open faced verge watch by Breguet
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A decorative, large French gilt, enamel and gemstone set open faced verge pocket watch, circa 1800. Full plate movement, verge escapement, chain and fusee, three arm brass balance, fine florally engraved and pierced balance bridge. White enamel dial with Arabic numerals and stone set pierced hands. A polychrome enamel portrait of a young lady on the case back adorned with gemstones some stones are missing, maker’s signature Leton.
Dial and movement signed.
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Diameter: 54 mm
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Weight: 122 g
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Signed: Breguet à Paris
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Abraham-Louis Breguet was born in Neuchâtel, Switzerland in 1747 and died in 1823 at the age of 77. At age 15, he left for Paris where he studied various disciplines, mathematics, astrology, horology, etc. He began his watchmaking career by marrying a wealthy heiress and establishing his first watch factory in Paris. He hired the most skilled and renowned horologers and master watchmakers. They realized his brilliant and innovative ideas. In 1786, he moved to London and set up a workshop where high quality pocket watches and chronometers were manufactured. In 1789, he returned to Paris, where he remained until 1793 when he fled for political reasons. With the arrival of Louis XVIII, he became in charge of the ‘Centre Horloger de Versailles’ and was appointed ‘Horloger de la Marine’, he further entered the Academy of Sciences, and the King personally imposes on him the ‘Legion of Honour’. His innovations and improvements shocked the already existing watchmaking industry.