French gold verge watch with ballooning scene Circa 1785

Gold and enamel pocket watch with a rare ballooning scene
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A small, French, gold and enamel open faced verge pocket watch with an early and rare ballooning scene Montgolfière, circa 1785.
18 Carat rose gold case, with engraved bezels, the backside with a polychrome enamel scene of a balloon ride over an Alpine lake, and a large lateral hinge. Enamel dial with radial Roman hours and Louis XV hands.
And a fire gilt full plate movement with chain/fusee, three-arm brass balance, fine florally engraved and pierced balance bridge and keywind.
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Diameter: 33 mm
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Weight: 32 g
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Signed: No name
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Historical tradition states that hot air balloons or their forerunners were used for the first time by Zhuge Liang (181-234) in China. During a military campaign, he invented (amongst other things) airborne lanterns fueled by candle flame that were used as signals. His invention is still used in China today as a kind of fireworks display called Konming lanterns. The lanterns are unlikely to have been used for transporting humans or goods but function wise they were a forerunner of modern hot air balloons; the main difference between the two versions is the size and the use of a frame in the lanterns similar to that in airships.
In Europe, the story of hot air balloons begins with paper manufacturer Joseph Michel Montgolfier and his brother Jacques Étienne Montgolfier. They originally tried to power their prototype with steam but changed to hot air when they realised that this was much more effective. The records differ on the exact date but on June 7, 9 or 14, 1783 the brothers launched their first large-size balloon in front of an audience. When King Louis XVI heard about this he requested that the Mongolfiers demonstrate their balloon to him. At the same time, he ordered the Académie des sciences to conduct their own tests with the balloon in Paris.