Gold and enamel watch from Estienne Chavanne Circa 1640

Gold and enamel watch
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A rare and unique French gold watch studded with the School of Paris, circa 1640. Verge escapement, full plate fire gilt movement, pre balance spring, fusee and regulator disc, pierced and engraved cock, pierced and engraved foot. Dial with enamel decoration of a polychrome landscape, single-handed, Roman numeral hour circle, and white enamel. Fully enamelled, decorated with Biblical scenes of the Annunciation on the back The Virgin and Child after a painting by Simon Vouet, decorated middle of the countryside, a lakeside setting at the back.
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Diameter: 39 mm
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Weight: 48 g
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Signed: Estienne Chavanes
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This watch is an example of the first enamel watches. If we consider that the technique of enamel painting dates from the early seventeenth century, this is one of the first projects using this technique. The quality of its glass surface is exceptional and can be attributed to the family Toutin, the founder of the dynasty, Jean, Blois s 1604. It is unlikely that John Toutin is the sole inventor of the technique of enamel, but his school in Blois has become a reference in the field of enamelled watches mid 17th century.

The craftsmen from Blois obviously contributed a lot to the development of this technology, including the enrichment of the colour palette. These watches represent the essence of the work, but very few contemporaries of Jean Toutin knew his secret, but two Henri and Jean II’s sons could claim this special technique. Given the period around 1640, we can attribute the quality of this email to brothers who have managed the inimitable colour palette of their father retained Toutin.  Son Henry, établit in Paris around 1634, lives in St Louis Island in the Palace.