French octagonal gold, enamel and rock crystal watch Circa 1625

Rock crystal octagonal pendant watch by Noël Hubert
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A French gold, rock crystal and enamelled octagonal verge pendant watch, circa 1625. The watch features a gilded movement with a verge escapement. The dial is painted champlevé enamel, has a gold radial chapter ring with Roman numerals, half-hour markers and a steel hand. The octagonal gold and painted polychrome enamel case with a hinged rock crystal cover concealing the dial. The watchmaker, Noël Hubert, has signed the movement.
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Dimensions: 32 x 29 mm
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Signed: Noël Hubert à Gros Horloge à Rouen
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Noël Hubert, a French watchmaker, was born around 1582 and was baptized in the parish of Saint Michel. He became a master watchmaker in Rouen and later became the ‘governeur de la grosse horloge de Rouen’ (governor of the great clock of Rouen). In 1650, Hubert became a juré and was one of the founding members of the Rouen Watch Society, along with Robert Grébauval. He set up the watchmaking dynasties in Rouen. Many watchmakers from these Huguenot families later emigrated to Amsterdam, The Hague, Leiden, Geneva and London.

Noël Hubert was married twice, first to Catherine Lescuyer and then to Louise Levillain. He had ten children from his first and four from his second marriage. Catherine, one of Noël’s daughters from his first marriage, married clock and watchmaker Balthazar Martinot I (1610-1697). Marguerite, another daughter he had with Catherine Lescuyer, married Jhérosme Grébauval and Philippe, one of the sons from his second marriage, married Catherine Grébauval. It is presumed that Robert Grébauval, Jhérosme Grébauval and Catherine Grébauval were all related to each other. Jean Hubert, another son from his second marriage, married Marie Hébert, the daughter of a watchmaker. Noël Hubert passed away around 1654.