French gold single handed open faced watch Circa 1801

Gold watch with ruby cylinder escapement
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A very fine and rare, 18K gold French, montre de souscription pocket watch with ruby cylinder escapement, circa 1801. An engine-turned, polished bezel and border, engine-turned band. Empire by Joly. White enamel dial, with Breguet numerals and outer five-minute track, secret signature below 12. Blued steel pointer hand. A frosted gilt movement, souscription calibre, central barrel wound from the front only, overhanging ruby cylinder escapement, three-arm brass balance, the top pivot with parachute, blued steel flat balance spring, bimetallic temperature compensation curb fitted to the index regulator. Dial and movement signed.

A Monsieur Hervas by Breguet, sold to Monsieur Hervas in Ventose, An 8 February/March 1801 for 840 francs, bought back in Frimaire, An 10 November/ December 1802 and registered at that time as No. 1018, sold to Monsieur Feran on 14 Germinal, An 10 April 1803 for 876 Francs.
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Diameter: 61 mm
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Signed: Breguet  Paris
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When the present watch was bought back by Breguet from Monsieur Hervas it was refurbished and re-entered in the registers. This watch is illustrated in The Art of Breguet, George Daniels, 1975, Monsieur Hervas a banker, was one of Breguet’s regular clients.