French gold pendant watch with enamel medallion Circa 1783-90

Decorative gold pendant watch by Daniel-François Vauchez
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A very fine French 18-carat gold and painted-on enamel pendant watch, circa 1783-1790. The featured timepiece boasts a brass and steel full-plate movement with cylindrical pillars, showcasing exquisite craftsmanship. The going barrel and verge escapement are complemented by a brass balance with a flat balance spring, ensuring precision in timekeeping. The pierced and engraved balance cock with polished steel coqueret, silver index regulator, and copper indicator add to the aesthetic appeal of the watch. The white enamel dial features radial Roman numerals and an outer minute track with five-minute Arabic numerals, allowing easy reading time. The winding aperture at 2 o’clock and the openwork brass hands add to the watch’s functionality.
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The partly enamelled gold case is set with pearls and a gold bezel with diamonds set in silver, adding to its luxury. The back of the case features a captivating scene of three men launching a balloon, with one carrying a burning straw to ignite the flame that heated the air in the balloon. The watch is signed on the back plate of the movement with Vauchez / Paris / N 2065 and on the face with Vauchez a Paris, indicating its origin and maker.
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Diameter: 38 mm
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Signed: Vauchez Paris
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French enthusiasm for ballooning was sparked by the June 4, 1783, ascent of a hot air balloon created by Joseph and Étienne Montgolfier. Four months later, a Montgolfier balloon with a crew of sheep, a duck, and a rooster was launched at Versailles in the presence of Louis XVI (1754–1793) and Marie Antoinette (1755–1793). The first human flight, which took place on November 21 that year, was witnessed by Benjamin Franklin, among others. It demonstrates how greatly early attempts at human flight captured the French imagination.
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Daniel-François Vaucher, born in Fleurier in 1716, was a renowned watchmaker who made significant contributions to the watchmaking industry during his active years between 1767 and 1790. He was the son of François Vaucher dit Chez Thomas, a magistrate, and the brother of Jean-Jacques Vaucher, also a watchmaker.
Despite not being directly related to Daniel Vaucher, father of David-Jean-Jacques-Henri Vaucher, Daniel-François made a name for himself in the watchmaking world. He was commonly referred to as Daniel and followed in his father’s footsteps to become a Justitzbeambte (Justicier du Vaux Travers).
In 1741, Daniel-François married Jeanne-Marie Petit Pierre in Fleurier, and together they had possibly nine children. His passion for watchmaking led him to create timepieces that were not only aesthetically pleasing but also highly accurate.
Daniel-François’s legacy lives on today, with his watches still being highly sought after by collectors. His contributions to the watchmaking industry have paved the way for future generations of watchmakers, and his dedication to his craft will always be remembered.