French 18 carat gold Louis XV verge pocket watch Circa 1770

Pocket watch with enamelled dial
–
A gold Louis XV verge watch, made by Jean Baptiste Dutertre II in Paris, France, circa 1770. The open faced case of this watch, which was crafted from 18 carat gold, has the case maker’s mark PBC with a crown and the white enamelled Louis XV dial has Arabic five minute numerals, Roman hour numerals and gold hands. The movement has a verge escapement.
The movement is signed.
–
Diameter: 44 mm
–
Weight: 55 g
–
Signed: Dutertre, Paris
–
Dutertre
The Dutertre watchmaking family was one of the most important Parisian watchmakers of the 18^th century.

Jean Baptiste Dutertre I (1684-1734) was born on Nobember 6, 1684 in Rennes; his father was the watchmaker François Dutertre. He went to Paris around 1701 and apprenticed with Jean-Baptiste Le Noir. Dutertre worked in the Rue Harlay near the Quai des Orfèvres from 1712 on and soon gained a reputation as an excellent maker.

Together with Pierre le Roy, Dutertre I refined the duplex escapement; he also invented the Dutertre escapement for pendulum clocks, a recoil escapement used for double pendulum clocks.
Jean Baptiste Dutertre I died on July 22, 1734 in Paris at the age of 49.
–
His son Jean-Baptiste Dutertre II became a master in 1735 and took over the direction of his father’s workshop in the Quai des Orfèvres, was immediately quite successful and became one of the most important Parisian horologists of the second third of the 18^th century. Like the best artisans of his day, Dutertre II called on the best bronziers for his gilt bronze clock cases, collaborating with Jean-Baptiste Osmond and Jean-Joseph de Saint-Germain, in particular. Influential aristocrats of the time were his clients; among them, the Marquis de Marigny et de Béringhen, the duc de Penthièvre and the Duchess de Mazarin, as well as several bankers and financiers, such as Messieurs Bochart de Saron, Lepelletier de Mortefontaine and Radix de Sainte-Foix, all of whom were collectors of fine horological pieces.