Large English 18K gold and enamel form watch Circa 1790

Gold and enamel scent flask-shaped watch attributed to Jaquet Droz
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A very rare and large English 18 carat gold and enamel form watch, The Scent Flask, circa 1790. Gilt cylinder movement in the shape of an amphora, balance and hands set with stones. Small white enamel dial with Roman hours and Arabic minutes. Case with case maker’s mark PG with crown, the back with concealed secret compartment, all sides elaborately enamelled, in the top the original key with thread, hinged on both sides, the front with a view to the balance and dial.
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Hight: 11.5 cm
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Weight: 106 g
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Signed: No name
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Holes in the case band probably indicate that the watch was originally equipped with an additional striking or musical movement.
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Only a few of these unique form watches are known. One of them is in the Macau Time Museum, originally part of the Jaquet Droz collection. Another one was auctioned in Geneva in 1990. This piece was also punched PG. Both pieces were nearly identical to the one shown here, but both contained additional musical movements. The rarest of these Jaquet Droz watches was equipped with an integrated singing bird automaton instead of the closed back. Such a watch was auctioned at Sotheby’s.