French gold quarter repeating à toc pocket watch Circa 1780

Gold repeating pocket watch by court watchmaker Gregson
–
A technically very interesting and extremely fine French gentleman’s repeating pocket watch à toc with cylinder escapement and centre seconds, circa 1780. Made for the Chinese market.
Polished 18-carat rose gold case, gold closure of the winding opening on the back, gold hallmarks, pusher for repetition via pendant. Signed enamel dial, in Berthoud style, with Roman radial hours, outer minutes/seconds track with Arabic fifteen minutes/seconds numerals, centre seconds, and blued Breguet hands. Extremely fine cylinder movement, keywind, fire gilt, signed, two hammers, chain/fusee, conical movement pillars, three-arm brass balance, fine florally engraved and pierced balance bridge, and with repetition of the hours and quarter hours a-toc.
–
Diameter: 54 mm
–
Weight: 123 g
–
Signed: Gregson, Hor. Du Roy à Paris
–
The watch has another rare and interesting detail: the golden lock of the winding opening jumps to the side via a spring mechanism when the key is inserted and then automatically closes the opening again. Golden pocket watches from this period with centre seconds were very rare and intended for the Chinese market.
–
Jean-Pierre Gregson was originally from England. In 1776 he became a royal watchmaker in Paris. His important position is also shown in the fact that in 1786 he was appointed as a member of a commission for the establishment of royal manufacture. The other members were the most famous watchmakers in France Breguet, Berthoud and Lepaute. As one of the first watchmakers of his time, he used Lépine’s bridge calibre early on.