French gold and enamel watch with visible balance Circa 1785

Gold and enamel cylinder watch by Jean-Pierre Gregson
–
A rare, French gold, enamel open faced pocket watch with a visible balance wheelset with diamonds and associated gold, enamel chatelaine, circa 1785.
The special 18K gold case is glazed on both sides, including fantastically preserved guilloche enamel with paillon rim, a central view of the balance wheelset with diamonds, and background mirror-polished steel. Signed enamel dial with Roman radial hours, outer minutes track with Arabic five minutes numerals, and red gold hands. Signed super flat Gregson cylinder movement.
The watch includes an equally extraordinary golden chatelaine, approx. 27 cm long, set with polished blue stones, matching the blue enamel of the case, two bell-shaped pendants, blue enamelled, and the original key.
–
Diameter: 50 mm
–
Weight: 68 g
–
Signed: Gregson à Paris
–
Gregson, Jean-Pierre, Paris court watchmaker of English descent
Jean-Pierre Gregson was originally from England. In 1776 he became a royal watchmaker in Paris. As one of the first watchmakers of his time, he used Lépine’s bridge calibre early on. Signed Gregson enamel watches with a visible balance wheel and chatelaine are absolute highlights from the royal watchmaker’s workshop and museum collector’s items. The clock comes from one of the most important European collections.