Very rare French gold and enamel quarter repeater Circa 1760

Fine gold and enamel quarter repeating verge by Jean Romilly
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A very rare French 20 carat gold and enamel quarter repeating pocket watch, circa 1760. Full plate movement, fire gilded, quarter hour repeater with 2 hammers on bottom bell, keywind, verge escapement, chain/fusee, blued screws, conical movement pillars, three armed steel balance, blued balance spring, engraved and pierced balance bridge, silver regulator dial. White enamel dial with fine crackle at 5 o’clock, black Roman numerals and outer minute ring with Arabic numerals. Beautiful case, dark blue enamelled on both sides, floral tendrils, at 7 o’clock button to stop the repetition, à toc et à tac.
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Diameter: 45 mm
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Weight: 88 g
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Signed: Jean Romilly A PARIS
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Literature: G.H. Baillie ‘Watchmakers & Clockmakers of the World’ London
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Jean Romilly was born in 1714 and he died in 1796. Son of the watchmaker Pierre Romilly, he was appointed master in 1752. Jean Romilly was engaged in watchmaking and meteorology, a journalist and encyclopedist. He was one of the founders of the Journal de Paris and editor of the Diderot and d’Alembert encyclopaedia, and maintained friendly relations with the famous philosopher and writer Jean-Jacques Rousseau.