French gold, enamel and pearl-set pocket watch Circa 1780

Large gold/enamel pocket watch by Court Watchmaker Pierre Gregson
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An exquisite, especially large gold French pocket watch with pearl setting and extraordinary enamelling, circa 1780.
18K gold case, face set with large Oriental pearls, back with exceptional enamel work, also decorated with small Oriental pearls. Signed enamel dial with Arabic radial hours, outer minutes track with five minutes numerals, and pink gold hands. Gilt full plate movement, turned pillars, fusee and chain, verge escapement, three-arm brass balance, flat balance spring, exceptionally thin calibre, signed and numbered.
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Diameter: 55 mm
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Weight: 78 g
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Signed: Pierre Gregson Paris
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Gregson was originally from England. In 1776 he became Royal Court Watchmaker in Paris. As one of the first watchmakers of his time, he used Lépine’s bridge calibre. He is known for large, magnificent gold/ enamel watches with thin calibres.