French gold and enamel verge for the Ottoman market Circa 1820

Gold and enamel pocket watch by Le Roy
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A very fine French 18 carat gold and enamel open faced verge pocket watch made for the Ottoman market, circa 1820. Full plate movement, key wind, chain and fusee, a verge escapement and three-arm brass balance. White enamel dial with Ottoman numerals and heavy moon hands. The decoration of the case is inspired by the shape of a petal, the back is divided into nine raised segments each framed by narrow borders of gold and white champlevé enamel, the individual ‘petals’ and the centre are ornamented with an engine-turned pattern and translucent green enamel with exquisite floral painting en grisaille, the edge, bezel, pendant and bow are decorated with opaque pink and white enamelling, the bezel is additionally embellished with nine translucent green arches to match the petal design on the back. Dial signed, movement signed and numbered, case numbered, movement and case with matching numbers.
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Diameter: 42 mm
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Weight: 57 g
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Signed: Le Roy Paris
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The sultans of the Ottoman Empire discovered their passion for lavishly ornamented watches as early as in the 16th century but it was in the 18th century that the wealthy classes developed a real interest in European timepieces and their makers. Consequently, the Swiss, French and English makers set out to conquer the Ottoman market and opened branches in Constantinople. With regard to local taste, the watches were fitted with Ottoman dials and elaborately decorated cases. The correspondence between the European makers and their retailers contains extensive lists of timepieces that were delivered to the Ottoman Empire. Some of these renowned manufacturers were Blondel & Melly, George Prior, Edward Prior, Markwick Markham and Breguet. Le Roy or Leroy, whose signature is on the dial and movement of this watch, was a famous maker from Paris, who went to Constantinople around 1810 to represent Abraham-Louis Breguet on the Ottoman market. He also imported watches from Swiss makers which were sold to the leading dignitaries of the time.
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A grisaille (en grisaille), or grey painting, is a painting in which one does not apply natural colours but restricts oneself to depicting things in all possible shades of the same colour, usually grey or brown.