Swiss 22K gold and enamel pre hairspring verge watch Circa 1660

Gold and enamel pocket watch with later chatelaine
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A very fine Swiss 22 Carat gold and painted on enamel pre balance spring verge watch with later chatelaine and box, circa 1660. Gilt verge movement, engraved and pierced foliage decorated balance cock, steel two arm pre hairspring balance wheel, ratchet and wheel regulation.
Silver dial with Roman numerals, a later inner gilt ring with engraved foliage, single blued steel hand.
Circular case with painted polychrome enamel pastoral vignettes to the band, the reverse with a painted polychrome enamel scene depicting the Holy Family and St.John the Baptist as a child; the interior is also decorated with a painted pastoral scene, on the front cover a scene depicting St.John, Virgin Mary and child and a further pastoral scene to the inside, ring pendant and seven piece hinge, dial and movement signed, together with a later added pink gold and enamel chatelaine with two seals and a key, in a fitted presentation box signed Linzeler & Fils, 15 Boult.de la Madeleine, Paris.
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Diameter: 36 mm
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Chatelaine, overall length 195 mm
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Signed: Jean Rousseau
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This watch is particularly rare as it retains its front cover, as during the 18th century, there was a strong demand for open faced watches and many were replaced with rock crystal fronts. The movement bears the signature of Jean Rousseau (1606-1684), the great grandfather of the famous philosopher Jean-Jaques Rousseau (1712-1778).
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Jean Rousseau is particularly noted for his form watches, and he was Master of the Clockmaker’s Company in Geneva. His sons also followed in their father’s footsteps and, apprenticed by him, became watchmakers, lapidaries and makers of crystal cases, engravers and goldsmiths.
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This watch had remained in the current vendor’s family for many generations, possibly back in the 1790’s when the chatelaine was added.