Swiss gold pair-cased quarter repeating verge Circa 1770

Gold open faced verge pocket watch
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A very fine Swiss extremely rare and important 18K gold and enamel pair-cased quarter repeating verge pocket watch, circa 1770. Outer case: two-body, the bezel and border decorated with cast and chased floral garlands in high relief and chased scrollwork, the back set with a finely painted on enamel panel depicting The Continence of Scipio, the enamel is attributable to George Michael Moser. Inner case: two-body, pierced, with chased and engraved decoration.

Gilt metal dust cover. White enamel dial with radial Roman numerals, outer minute track and Arabic five-minute numerals, pierced gold hands. A hinged frosted gilt movement with tapered cylindrical pillars, fusee and chain, verge escapement, three-arm brass balance with jewelled top-pivot, flat blued steel balance spring, chased scrollwork balance cock with a single foot in the English manner, silver regulation dial, repeating with two hammers on a bell mounted in the back of the case. Movement signed.
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Diameter: 49 mm
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Signed: A. Friolet Le Locle
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The case is repolished, the edges preserved and the dial is slightly rusted.
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The present watch is extremely enigmatic, as it is signed by a Swiss maker and the decorative finish of the movement is Swiss in style. However, the watch shows a very strong English influence in its construction. The balance cock, dust cover and the engraving of the inner case are of classic English design and significantly, the bell is scratch-signed Drury, who was a bellmaker working in Soho and whose bells were used by most of the eminent English watchmakers of the second half of the 18th Century. The enamel panel is almost certainly from the workshop of George Michael Moser and is comparable to several other watch panels bearing his signature. Perhaps Friolet was working in London at some time in his career and made this watch in an English style using some English components.
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The Continence of Scipio. A legendary act of clemency. After capturing the Spanish city of New Carthage, the elder Scipio received as a prize of war a beautiful maiden. Learning that the girl was betrothed, he summoned her fiancé and restored her to him unharmed, at the same time delivering a short sermon on the moral probity of the Romans. In the scene depicted on the present watch, Scipio is seen in his tent in the act of handing back the girl to the bridegroom who kneels before him. The bride’s parents and their attendants approach bearing a ransom of golden vessels – which Scipio handed back as a wedding present to the bridegroom. This scene was considered an appropriate decoration for a marriage gift.