English gold hunter case watch with coat of arms Circa 1802

Gold hunter cased watch with coat of arms
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An English gold hunter cased watch with a coat of arms belonging to Duc De Chartres, the future Louis Philippe the 3th of France, circa 1802, gilt full plate movement, duplex escapement balance cock, and plate engraved with foliate designs, grotesque mask on cock table, diamond endstone, round baluster pillars, gilt metal dust cap, white enamel dial with Roman numerals, Arabic numerals mark the quarter hours, subsidiary seconds with Arabic numerals, gold spade hands, front of case engraved with a coat of arms belonging to the Duc de Chartres 1773-1850, case back plain and hinged revealing winding square, bow marked with French owl numbered 75 for Paris, front and rear of case marked IM for either James Marson or James Macklin, dust cap and movement signed Rundell and Bridge, London.
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Diameter 52 mm
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Signed: Rundell and Bridge London
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The arms on the case are those of the Duc de Chartres (1773-1850), who eventually became King Louis Philippe III of France in 1830.

He supported the French Revolution during his youth, and called himself ‘Citroyen Chartres’. Although he sympathized with the Jacobins, he was in exile in England between 1801 and 1807.  He became Duc d’Orleans following the death of his father, who was guillotined during the Reign of Terror.  He returned to France after the Bourbon Restoration in 1815, and was proclaimed King following the abdication of Charles X.  He reigned from 1830- 1848, after which he was forced to abdicate.

Rundell and Bridge were appointed principal royal goldsmith and jeweller in 1804. They are recorded in G. H. Baillie Watchmakers and  Clockmaker’s of the World, Third edition 1947 as active during 1772-1825. 

 The present watch is hallmarked as 1802, and therefore was likely acquired by the Duc de Chartres when he was in exile in England between 1801-1807.  The movement of the present lot although simple is very similar to those produced by Vulliamy at this time.