Rare French gold pre hairspring verge watch Circa 1650

Extremely rare gold and enamel pre hairspring verge
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Magnificent and rare French 20 Carat gold and enamel single hand pre balance spring pendant watch, circa 1650, Gilt metal, full plate movement, turned vase pillars, fusee and gut line, verge escapement, circular foliot, irregular cock pierced and engraved with wild strawberries, secured by a screw, ratchet wheel and click mainspring set up with the click base and front matching the cock, short four wheel train. Case with a curved edge, entirely covered with azure enamel, the back centered with a six petal blossom with a yellow and orange center in relief, the edge, bezel and pendant painted with a matching pattern, the yellow and orange centers also in relief, the inside has a center painted with the same flower in grisaille enamel over an azure enamel ground. Gold, radial dial with Roman hour chapter on white enamel background, half hour dot divisions, azure enamel center. Gilt tulip hand. Signed on the movement.
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Diameter: 36 mm
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Signed: P. Belon Paris
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Pierre Belon became master in 1623, later being appointed Valet de Chambre both to the King and the Queen. His son, also named Pierre, followed in his father’s footsteps and also held Royal appointments. He became a watchmaker to the Queen in 1645 and to the King in 1649. The present lot was previously sold by Antiquorum Geneva on April 12, 2003, lot 491. The technique of using several layers of enamel to create relief was used when the artist wished to give greater depth to a decor, which was often repetitive, geometrical or floral, without using the technique of bosselé, in which the support was first repoussé, then painted.