Fine French 18K gold and enamel pocket watch Circa 1750

Gold open faced key winding verge watch
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A magnificent French 18 carat gold open faced timepiece known as Eliezer & Rebecca, featuring champlevé enamel attributed to Bouvier, mid 18th century. This watch has a mechanical key winding movement with a verge escapement, a chain fusee, a spiral balance, an advance/retard adjustment regulation disc, and stylized pillars between the two plates. It features a beautifully chased and pierced continental balance cock, unsigned on the backplate. The white enamel dial has black Roman numerals for the hours, outer Arabic numerals for the five minute marks from 5 to 60, a fine minute track, stylized hands, and a winding aperture near 4 o’clock. All surround an exceptionally fine central field decorated with translucent green enamel over a geometric rhombus and flower pattern.
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The timepiece is housed in an exceptionally fine hinged, 18 carat solid gold case. The front has a bezel delicately decorated with stylized motifs over a blue enamel base. The reverse back cover is sumptuously finished with a repoussé gold composition depicting the biblical meeting of Eliezer and Rebecca beside a low stone well finished in vibrant translucent green enamel, accompanied by a resting camel, all set against a rich royal blue enamel background mimicking hard stone.
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Diameter: 46 mm
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Weight: 71.2 g
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Signed: No name
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The exceptionally fine repoussé gold and enamel work on this case is attributed to Bouvier, a skilled family of artisans renowned in the mid 18th century for decorating premier luxury timepieces.
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The case masterfully illustrates the famous biblical narrative from Genesis 24. Abraham’s faithful servant Eliezer travels to Haran to find a wife for Isaac. Upon praying for a sign that the chosen woman would offer water to both him and his camels, the beautiful and virtuous Rebecca appears at the well, fulfilling his prayer through her hospitality and generosity.
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This profoundly spiritual story of faith, divine providence, and sacred alliance became a popular allegorical subject throughout the Renaissance, Baroque, and Rococo decorative arts, most famously captured in paintings by Old Masters like Nicolas Poussin. In 18th century European watchmaking, such highly decorated historical and biblical scenes were expertly adapted using luxury champlevé and translucent enamel techniques to cater to the sophisticated cultural tastes and spiritual appreciation of the noble elite.