English unusual and extremely rare verge pocket watch circa 1710

Silver and enamel pair-cased pocket watch by Charles Cabrier
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An unusual, extremely rare and very fine silver and enamel pair-cased English verge pocket watch, circa 1710.
Two cases: silver, brass, enamel outer case; and silver inner case with case maker’s punch mark JPF. Silver, champlevé style dial, the centred by engraved foliage decoration, with Roman numerals for the hours, blued steel beetle and poker hands, and outer Arabic five-minute divisions. Gilt finished full movement, chain fusée, three-arm steel balance, finely pierced and engraved foliage decorated balance cock and foot.
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Diameter: 52 mm
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Weight: 116 g
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Signed: Charles Cabrier, London
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An unusual watch throughout! The fine miniature painting “Venus, goddess of love, in her bed-chamber with her lover Adonis” is uncommon for a watch in a silver case; from the outstanding quality of the miniature, we would normally expect the watch to have a more valuable gold case.
The delicate and sophisticated enamel work and the mythological subject is also rare in an English watch dating from the early 18th century. It is quite possible that Cabrier had the case made in France or that it was created by a French maker who lived in England particularly since Cabrier was French and had emigrated to England himself. Charles Cabrier I Cabrier was a Frenchman who emigrated to England after the Edict of Nantes had been revoked. He became a member of the Clockmakers Company in 1698 and died in 1726. His son and grandson were also called Charles and renowned watchmakers in their own right.