French oval single handed Renaissance watch Circa 1660

Oval form pocket watch by Nicolas Gribelin
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A rare French oval, single handed pre balance spring Renaissance watch, circa 1660.
Brass firegilt case with the front and back cover lavishly engraved, the sides with applied pierced and florally engraved ribbons and portrait cartouches. Brass firegilt dial, lavishly engraved with foliage decor, cornucopias and a winged head, applied silver chapter ring with Roman numerals, engraved center depicting an alpine landscape with a town view and iron hand. Oval fire gilt brass full plate movement with applied floral decorations, verge escapement, gut fusee, baluster movement pillars, ratchet wheel set up with blued steel spring, plain two arm iron balance without balance spring, fine florally engraved and pierced balance cock.
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Diameter: 64 x 37 mm
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Weight: 84 g
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Signed: Nicolas Gribelin à Blois
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Nicolas Gribelin Nicolas Gribelin was born in Blois in 1637 as son of clockmaker Abraham Gribelin. By the end of the XVII century he was one of the most famous French clockmakers of the time. In 1674 he was appointed Horloger de Monsieur le Dauphin, who was the son of Louis XIV; Gribelin was received at the Faubourg St. Germain as Master in 1675. Gribelin often worked together with Andre Charles Boulle for the cases of his clocks. When the Dauphin’s clocks were inventoried in 1689, four of then were by Nicholas Gribelin. Gribelin died in 1719; today many museums hold examples of his work.