French gold and silver single handed watch Circa 1799

Gold open faced watch with champleve monogram
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A very fine, rare and important French, silver and gold, early intermediate stage experimental montre de souscription pocket watch with ruby cylinder escapement, circa 1799. A polished back with gold centre and blue champleve enamel monogram CD, gold bezels, pendant, and hinges. White enamel dial, signed on the reverse Droz P, Breguet numerals and outer divisions for five minutes, quarter and half-hours. Blued steel Breguet souscription hand.

A frosted gilt movement, early asymmetrical plate, central barrel wound from the front only, wheel train at the outer edge, overhanging Breguet ruby cylinder escapement, three-arm brass balance with three steel pins on the inner rim, blued steel flat balance spring, bimetallic temperature compensation curb on the index regulator. Dial and movement signed case punched with the serial number.
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Diameter: 61 mm
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Signed: Breguet  Paris
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The present watch is an extremely rare and important example of the intermediate stage of the souscription watch. The calibre for the souscription was developed in stages, the first being a single-handed watch with the barrel in the centre and the balance mounted beneath the dial. Of the three known watches with the first type of movement, one has a lever escapement, one an Arnold spring detent and the other a steel cylinder escapement. This watch represents the next stage of development, between the first model and the typical souscription calibre. It incorporates an overhanging ruby cylinder escapement and bimetallic compensation curb and the wheel train is in the same position as in the final version, however, instead of separate bridges, this watch has a circular backplate with a cut away for the balance wheel. The dial, whilst signed in the mature style is still attached in an early way with two screws from the back.