French verge pocket watch for the Irish market Circa 1740

Open faced gold pocket watch by Jean Baptiste Baillon
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A French verge pocket watch for the Irish market, circa 1740.
18 carat pink gold case with Irish gold punch marks; white enamel dial with Roman hours, Arabic minutes, a keyhole and decorative hands; signed full plate movement with verge escapement, chain/fuse and a three-arm brass balance.
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Diameter: 50 mm
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Weight: 101 g
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Signed: Jean Baptiste Baillon à Paris
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Jean-Baptiste Baillon (de Fontenay) was a very famous – and in the 18th century the richest – watch- and clock maker in Paris. In 1727 he became a master; he had his own manufactory in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, where he had several makers working for him – quite unusual at the time. The factory was run by Jean Jodin (1715-1761); it closed in 1765. Ferdinand Berthoud was very impressed by Baillon’s business, he admired its size and the excellent quality that was produced. In 1753 Berthoud wrote about Baillon’s shop: “Nowadays this is the most beautiful and most wealthy watch shop. Diamonds are not only used for pocket watches but even for clocks”. Around 1770 Baillon was appointed watch- and clock maker to the court of Queen Marie Antoinette, “Premier Valet de Chambre and Valet de Chambre-Horloger Ordinaire de la Dauphine to Marie-Antoinette”. In 1772 Jean-Baptiste-Albert Baillon died a very rich man. His assets were worth around 384.000 livres. Some of his works are today held by museums in Paris, Toulouse, Brussels, Florence, London and New York.