French gold, enamel, ruby and diamond-set cylinder watch Circa 1860

Pendant watch decorated with enamel painted in imitation of pietra dura 
–
A fine and very rare French 18 carat gold, enamel painted in imitation of pietra dura, ruby and diamond-set cylinder pendant watch, circa 1860. Matte gilt movement, bar calibre, eight jewels, cylinder escapement, three-arm gilt balance, blued steel flat balance spring, index regulator. Gold hinged cuvette. Dial decorated with champlevé enamel on gold in imitation of pietra dura, the background imitating jasper, gold Roman numerals on white cartouches, outer white minute track with gold minute divisions and original pierced gold hands. Polished case, the back enamelled in imitation of jasper with gold foliate outlining and quartered by rose-cut rubies and diamonds. Cuvette signed.
–
Diameter: 31 mm
–
Signed: Le Roy & Fils H.gers de la Marine Palais-Royal 13 & 15 Galerie Montpensier Paris & 296 Regent Street London
–
The case and dial decoration of this watch successfully imitate the rare and very expensive ‘boîtes à incrustations’ cases made for Breguet by the jeweller Jean-Baptiste Fossin in the early 19th century. So convincing is the trompe l’oeil effect of the dial that it only becomes apparent after very close inspection that it is enamelled rather than being made of inlaid hardstones.