French 22 carat gold verge watch with repeater Circa 1770

Exquisite watch decorated in two colours
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A rare and exceptional gold quarter repeating verge pocket watch, made by the master horologist Henry Voisin in Paris, France, circa 1770. This timepiece features an 18 carat gold, engine turned (guilloché) transitional style watch case. The reverse displays a fine, radiating concentric geometric pattern, beautifully framed by a hand chiseled, multi colour gold floral border along the rim – a hallmark of elite Parisian craftsmanship from the late Louis XV and early Louis XVI eras. The top is fitted with a robust gold pendant and matching functional suspension bow.

The pristine white enamel dial is framed by a continuation of the multi coloured gold bezel, showcasing the same chased floral motif. It features elegant black italicized Arabic numerals for the hours and a fine outer minute track with delicate black ticks for individual minutes, accented by distinct markers at the five minute intervals. A dedicated winding aperture is positioned near the 2 o’clock mark. The magnificent, hand carved and chased gold Louis XV style hands feature delicate scroll and filigree work, brilliantly highlighted by a genuine rose cut gemstone set directly into the center axis.

The classic 18^th century French movement features a traditional verge escapement, intricately stylised movement pillars and a silver regulator disk. The balance wheel is protected by a large, spectacular gilded brass balance cock,  hand pierced and engraved with Rococo scroll and filigree openwork. Additionally, the movement features an internal striking mechanism that softly chimes the hours and nearest quarter hours onto an internal bell or the inner case wall when the pendant is depressed.
The movement is signed.
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Diameter: 41 mm
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Weight: 62 g
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Signed: Henry Voisin à Paris
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Voisin

Henry Voisin was one of the most important Parisian watchmakers of the second half of the 18^th century. The son of watchmaker Charles Voisin (1685-1761), he entered into a partnership with his father and then opened his own workshop, becoming within a few years one of the most renowned watchmakers in the French capital. In the last years of the 18^th century and the first years of the following century, several of his watches were recorded as belonging to prominent Parisian connoisseurs. These include clocks mentioned in the inventories of Madeleine-Françoise-Louise-Elisabeth de Lorraine, Princess of Marsan, the Marshal of France Charles Duke of Fitzjames (in his wife’s estate inventory), the famous printer Pierre Didot, called “the Elder” and Victurnien-Bonaventure-Victor de Rochechouart, Marquis de Mortemart.