Large French 18K gold single handed pocket watch Circa 1799

Gold watch with ruby cylinder escapement
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A very fine and very rare French, early experimental, silver and gold montre de souscription pocket watch with ruby cylinder escapement, circa 1799. A polished band, engine-turned back with central engraved initials JB, yellow gold bezel and border. White enamel dial, Breguet numerals, outer divisions for the five minutes, quarter and half-hours, secret signature below 12. Blued steel souscription hand.

A Gilt-brass movement, souscription calibre with central barrel wound from the front only, an early form of third and fourth wheel bridge, overhanging ruby cylinder escapement, three-arm plain brass balance, flat balance spring, bimetallic temperature compensation curb on the index regulator. Dial and movement signed.
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Diameter: 62 mm
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Signed: Breguet  Paris
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The present watch is one of the very rare surviving examples of an early souscription watch at the stage just before the final development of the souscription calibre. The distinguishing features of this are the early cursive type signature, an early form of third and fourth wheel bridges (curved not straight), winding from the front only and the balance spring pinned to the underside of the balance cock. The dial has the earlier method of attachment to the movement by two screws from the back as opposed to the final method of a single screw from the front.