Decorative French gold enamel virgule pocket watch Circa 1788

Pair cased gentleman’s pocket watch by Jean-Pierre Gregson
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A French very fine and decorative gold enamel gentleman’s pocket watch with virgule escapement, circa 1788. Two cases: protecting (outer) case – copper, gilt, à goutte and glazed on one side; inner case – 22 Carat gold and enamel with engraved golden flower border on a blue ground and the backside with translucid pale blue enamel over a lavishly engine turned ground.
Signed enamel dial with Arabic numerals and gold arrow shaped hands. Frosted, gilt and keywind bridge movement with virgule escapement, going barrel and three arm brass balance.
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Diameter: 54 mm
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Weight: 102 g
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Signed: Gregson, Hor. du Roy à Paris
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Jean-Pierre Gregson
Jean-Pierre Gregson originally came from England; he was appointed clockmaker to the royal court in Paris in 1776. The importance of his position was corroborated by the fact that in 1786 he was appointed a member of the commission for the establishment of a royal manufactory. The other members were the most famous makers of France – Breguet, Berthoud and Lepaute. Gregson was one of the first makers of his time to use Lépine’s bridge calibre. However, after the outbreak of the French Revolution, a position as a maker to the court was not beneficial to Gregson’s business anymore, so he abandoned the title quickly. While his repeating clock, no. 2181 was still signed “Hor du Roy”, no. 2276 only bore the signature “Hger à Paris”. In 1790 Gregson returned to London to be safe. He established a new workshop and called it “Gregson London”. He continued to build French-style clocks and kept his old numbering system.