French 18K yellow gold diamond set pocket watch Circa 1830

Gold open faced verge watch
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A magnificent French 18 carat yellow gold open faced pocket watch, made by Prevost in Rouen during the Restoration period, circa 1830, designed in the refined Louis XVI style. This watch features a traditional mechanical cock movement with a verge escapement and fusee and chain system, signed Prevost à Rouen on the plate. The white enamel dial displays bold black Roman numerals for the hours, an outer minute track with Arabic numerals, and elaborate openwork hands set entirely with rose cut diamonds. The bezel and cylindrical push button are further embellished with a continuous border of old cut and rose cut diamonds. The 18 carat yellow gold case back is exquisitely decorated with applied three color gold attributes of love, featuring a vase on a column, doves, and a flowering basket. The case bears the Chimera hallmark and is re punched with the French eagle’s head hallmark.
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Diameter: 44 mm
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Weight: 68.2 g
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Signed: Prevost à Rouen
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Prevost à Rouen
The Prevost (or Prévost) family was a distinguished dynasty of master watchmakers active in Rouen, France, throughout the 18th and early 19th centuries. Rouen was a major centre for French horology, and the Prevost workshop was renowned for producing high quality timepieces that combined technical precision with the opulent aesthetics of the era. Their work often featured sophisticated verge escapements and fusee and chain systems. During the Restoration period (c. 1814–1830), the firm catered to a nostalgic demand for the Louis XVI style, crafting luxurious watches adorned with multi colored gold and precious gemstones. The inclusion of a Prevost signature is a mark of provincial French excellence, recognised in authoritative records such as Tardy’s Dictionnaire des Horlogers Français.