French rock crystal key wound verge pocket watch Circa 1685

Verge in later rock crystal case by P. Cuper
–
A French gilt and rock crystal key wound verge pocket watch, circa 1680-1690. The oval movement with a verge escapement, chain and gut string, a balance without hairspring, an engraved balance cock and astronomical indications. Richly engraved gilt dial with silvered chapter rings, indication of the date, days of the week, moon phases and hours, original blued steel hands. A later, faceted rock crystal case.
–
Dimensions: 75 x 55 mm
–
Signed: P. Cuper
–
Various signs of repair are visible. 
–
Cuper is the name of a renowned family of watchmakers who made themselves celebrated by the introduction of the watchmaking industry into Blois, an industry which spread from that town into a great many places in Europe. So far as can be known, the founder of the family, Barthélomy, was born in Germany in about 1530, emigrated to France and settled down at Blois. He appears to have been a man of noble birth and had two sons: Paul, the founder of the watchmaking company and Pierre, who also worked as a watchmaker in Blois. Both these men were sent to Nuremberg, Germany by their father to study the art, which Peter Hele (Henlein) had discovered, of making portable watches.