French gold repeating watch with three automata Circa 1800

Gold open faced quarter repeater verge watch
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A fine French 18 carat yellow gold open faced quarter repeating pocket watch featuring three mechanical automata with Martin and Martine jacquemarts, circa 1800. This watch has a mechanical key winding movement with a balance cock featuring a verge escapement and a quarter repeating complication using a two hammer striking mechanism on a gong activated by the bezel pusher. The half skeletonized dial has a central white enamel disc with black Arabic numerals for the hours, an outer railway minute track, and Breguet style hands. It is surrounded by a finely chased gilt decorative field revealing the underlying striking quadrature and three automata, including the figures of Martin and Martine striking bells on request, alongside a third automaton at 6 o’clock.
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The timepiece is housed in a round 18 carat solid yellow gold open faced case with a richly chased and engraved fluted caseband, a polished winding stem, a sturdy round suspension bow, and an engine turned reverse back cover featuring an unengraved shield shaped cartouche bordered by fine floral motifs. It is complete with a double brass cuvette.
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Diameter: 58 mm
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Weight: 132.7 g
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Signed: No name
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Martin and Martine (Martin et Martine) are the legendary names given to the iconic automated mechanical figures, historically known as jacquemarts, that strike the hours and quarters on the belfry of the town hall in Cambrai, France. According to local lore from the Middle Ages, Martin was a heroic figure who saved the town from a siege by striking the alarm bell. Around 1510, a mechanical blacksmith was erected on the clock tower in his honour, later joined by his wife, Martine. Around 1800, during the golden era of complicated horology in France and Switzerland, creating miniature replicas of these famous clock tower automata on pocket watch dials became a highly coveted luxury trend. On these rare timepieces, activating the repeating mechanism brings the meticulously chased gold figures to life, moving their arms in perfect synchronicity with the internal hammers to visually strike the miniature bells. Due to their widespread fame, Martin Martine became the definitive universal term used by horologists to classify this specific style of early 19th century French pocket watches featuring animated, bell striking jacquemart figures.