French gold quarter repeating and striking verge Circa 1760

Gold striking and repeating clockwatch
–
A fine and very rare French Louis XV, 18 carat gold half hour striking and repeating clockwatch, Paris hallmarks for 1760. Gilt full plate movement, turned pillars, fusee with chain, verge escapement, three-arm steel balance, flat balance spring, foliate pierced and chased continental balance cock, silvered regulation dial, striking train with fixed spring barrel and striking the hours and half-hours with a single hammer on a bell, repeating the last hour activated by depressing the pendant.
Case pierced and engine turned with a swirling basket-work pattern.
White enamel with radial Roman numerals, outer minute track and Arabic five minute numerals. Gold Louis XV hands. Dial and movement signed.
–
Diameter: 47 mm
–
Signed: Braillard à Versailles
–
The Braillard family of watchmakers are recorded as working in Besançon during the 18th Century. A clock is recorded with the signature : Braillard a Versailles – and it is possible that the pieces signed in this way were special orders for a member of Louis XV’s court at Versailles. Very few clockwatches were produced in France during the 18th Century.