English gold enamel watch, “Bras en l’air” indication Circa 1790

Gold gentleman’s enamel pocket watch
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A gentleman’s rare gold enamel pocket watch with “Bras en l’air” indication, circa 1790.

18k gold case, the back cover and the bezels engine turned and translucent cobalt blue enamelled and decorated with golden Champlevé mottoes, front side inscription: “ET DU BIEN ET DU MAL JE MARQUE LES INSTANS” (“I show the good times as well as the bad”), back side inscription: “JE SUIS SANS LE VOULOIR ENTRAINÉE PAR LE TEMS”(“Time rolls on and I can do nothing”), case maker punch mark “VW”. Enamel dial, left semicircle with Arabic minute indicator, right semicircle with Arabic hour indicator, applied gilt gure of a warrior indicating the time with his arms by pushing the crown. Full plate movement, keywind, fire gilt, chain fusee, round pillars, three arm brass balance, blued balance spring, florally engraved and pierced balance bridge.
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Diameter: 55 mm
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Weight: 116 g.