French most decorative gold enamel pocket watch Circa 1810

Gold enamel pocket watch by Gregson
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A French most decorative gold enamel pocket watch, circa 1810. The gold enamel case features a fine polychrome enamel painting on the back. The painting depicts a pastoral scene on an engine-turned translucid cobalt blue background, surrounded by a white and gold Champlevé enamel frame. The bezels are half pearl set, and the pendant has polychrome enamelling and a gilt protective case. The dial is enamel and signed, displaying Arabic numerals and gold hands. The movement is a full plate, keywind, frosted, gilt, and signed. It has a verge escapement, chain/fusee mechanism, a three-arm brass balance, and a fine, florally engraved and pierced balance bridge.
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Diameter: 56 mm
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Weight: 75 g
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Signed: Gregson à Paris
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Jean Gregson
Jean-Pierre Gregson originally came from England; he was appointed clockmaker to the royal court in Paris in 1776. The importance of his position was corroborated by the fact that in 1786, he was appointed a commission member to establish a royal manufactory. The other members were the most famous makers of France – Breguet, Berthoud and Lepaute. Gregson was one of the first makers of his time to use Lépine’s bridge calibre. However, after the outbreak of the French Revolution, a position as a maker in the court was not beneficial to Gregson’s business anymore, so he abandoned the title quickly. While his repeating clock no. 2181 was still signed “Hger du Roi”, no. 2276 only bore the signature “Hger à Paris”. In 1790, Gregson returned to London to be safe. He established a new workshop and called it “Gregson London”. He continued to build French-style clocks and kept his old numbering system.