French gilt brass single-handed oval verge watch Circa 1615

Gilt brass pre-balance spring verge watch 
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A fine and rare French gilt brass key wind pre-balance spring single-handed oval pendant watch, circa 1615. Fire gilt full plate verge with French style fusée, single pinned foot pierced and engraved balance cock, later addition of balance spring and regulator, brass 4-arm balance wheel ratchet wheel and click mainspring set up.
The dial with black Roman numerals to a central engraved panel depicting a nude outside a castle, set within a gilt oval panel engraved with flora and winged figures, single black hand.
Polished oval form, reeded edges to the band, engraved bow with flora, crest engraved to the inner case back with floral surround Movement signed.
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Dimensions excl. finial and pendant: 50 x 38 mm
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Signed: P. Vaissiere a Castres
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There are very few examples of watches by Vaissiere. He was working in Castres near Toulouse in the south of France; the now small town was in the 1600’s a large and bustling centre of trade and commerce and large enough to support a watchmaker producing fine watches. Pierre Vaissieres, a Castres (France) end 1600-1625.