Fine French silver key wind oignon watch with alarm Circa 1690

Silver Louis XIV oignon watch by Gilles Martinot
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A fine French silver open faced Louis XIV verge oignon pocket watch with alarm, circa 1690. Full plate movement, Egyptian pillars, chain and fusee, an impressively large Louis XIV balance bridge with the finest scrollwork decoration, one hammer, an overhead ratchet and three arm steel balance, the mechanism for the alarm clock is located in an openwork barrel decorated with fine floral tendrils. Chased fire gilded brass dial, white enamel cartouches with black Roman hours, a central rotating florally engraved gold plated alarm clock disc, a tulip shaped alarm clock hand and single blued iron hand. The case back is engraved with concentric circles and pierced with small sound holes, a bottom bell for the alarm. Movement signed.
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Diameter: 58 mm
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Weight: 191 g
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Signed: Gilles Martinot à Paris
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Gilles Martinot II was born in 1658 to Balthazar Martinot I (1610-1697) and Catherine Hubert. In 1687, he married Élisabeth Lejeune. In 1702 he joined forces with his eldest brother Balthazar Martinot II and Jean de Hautefeuille to produce watches with balance springs based on his design. Gilles Martinot died on February 5th, 1726, at Rue de Harley in Paris.