French gold and enamel repeating à toc et à tact watch Circa 1770

Exquisite quarter repeating verge watch by Bonna Frères 
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An exceptionally beautiful, fine Swiss gold/enamel verge watch with rare repeater à toc et à tact, circa 1770.
Verge movement, No.1037, repeating the hours and quarters (repeater needs adjustment), either on the bell or on the case’s rim with a knob for the silent or secret repeater without sound. Original, enamel dial with Roman radial hours, outer minutes track with Arabic five minutes numerals, and magnificent hands set with stones (professionally restored at the winding hole). 18K pink gold  Louis XV-style case of exceptional quality, finest sound openings, back with an exceptionally beautiful enamel painting, an altar of love on the shore of Lake Geneva, sailing boats in the background, sky engine turned enamelled, evening atmosphere with sunset, painting framed by small white enamel beads (partially rubbed), and bell. Dial and movement signed. This watch is of fantastic quality and completely original.
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Diameter: 42 mm
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Weight: 77 g
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Signed: Bonna à Genève
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The Bonna Frères company in Geneva made the finest enamel watches. Around 1780 they became partners with Mourier and signed the watches ‘Freres Bonna & Mourier’. This watch was therefore made before 1780.
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À toc watch
A dumb repeater watch in which a hammer strikes the inside of the case to produce a muffled sound.
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À tact watch
1. Repeater watch in which hammer and bell are replaced by a sharp pin which protrudes from the case to prick the finger once for each hour.
2. A type of watch made after 1795 by Abraham Louis Breguet to give time by touch. In the late eighteenth century, it was considered impolite to consult one’s watch in company, a question of etiquette which the à tact watch helped to solve (the French tact, meaning touch, has given the English tact and tactful). Knobs representing the hours are positioned around the case with a large hand that could be turned until it meets resistance. Its position in relation to the knobs gave the time. This kind of tactile watch is now mainly used by the blind and visually impaired.