German silver pair cased key wound pocket watch Circa 1860

Silver verge watch in pair cases by Antoine Rojard
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A German silver and tortoiseshell pair cased key wound pocket watch, circa 1860. The movement with a verge escapement. White enamel dial with Roman hours, an outer minute track, Arabic five minute numerals and decorative hands. The back of the subsequently heavily damaged outer case is covered with tortoiseshell, the inner case is plain and stamped Augsburg on the inside. Movement signed.
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Diameter inner case: 49 mm
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Diameter outer case: 55 mm
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Weight inner case: 25 g.
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Weight incl. outer case: 79 gr.
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Signed: Rojard London
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Antoine Rojard was most likely the son of Jean-Daniel, a horologist. He was active at the end of the 18th century and continued until the end of the 19th. Rojard is known to have made automata and unusual watches, including ones with thermometers and repeating watches in English style.

Rojard invented a movement with two stacked bells sunk into the movement. He further claimed to have invented an automaton mechanism in which, as one function was disengaged, another almost immediately engaged, allowing a sequence of mechanical actions to be displayed. This control mechanism runs from a single wheel and reduces the overall complexity of the mechanism without diminishing the effect or apparent complexity of the automaton.