French 18K yellow gold open faced pocket watch Circa 1805

Gold open faced verge watch
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French 18 carat yellow gold open faced pocket watch made by Deschamps in Paris in the early 19th century. It has a mechanical cock movement with a fusee and chain system and verge escapement (not working). The white enamel dial shows Roman numerals for the hours, an outer railway minute track, gilt decorative hands, and a winding square at 2 o’clock. The 18 carat yellow gold case features a finely fluted caseband. It is topped with a simple gold pendant and a flattened oval shaped bow. The watch shows signs of wear and damage, including a glass crystal that needs refixing.
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Diameter: 55 mm
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Weight: 100.8 g
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Signed: Deschamps à Paris
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Deschamps 
A distinguished French watchmaker active in Paris during the late 18th and early 19th centuries, a period known for technical and aesthetic mastery in horology. Based in the French capital, Deschamps built a reputation for crafting high quality timepieces, from sophisticated pocket watches to elaborate mantel clocks. His work features traditional French mechanisms, notably the verge escapement (échappement à roue de rencontre) and the fusee and chain system, which improve accuracy by equalising the mainspring’s pull. A hallmark of his pocket watches is the finely pierced and engraved balance bridge, called the “coq”, showcasing the era’s intricate craftsmanship. Deschamps’ name is recorded in authoritative horological references, such as Tardy’s Dictionnaire des Horlogers Français, confirming his status as a master craftsman of the Empire and Restoration periods.