French red gold pocket watch with musical mechanism Circa 1800

Early red gold pocket watch with cylinder escapement
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A very fine particularly early red gold pocket watch with musical mechanism, made by Benac in Besançon, France, circa 1800. This pocket watch boasts an open faced case, fashioned from 18 Carat red gold and its back is adorned with an elegant engine turned design. The case bears the manufacturer’s mark PHP and is engraved with the unique case number 2100, adding to its provenance and historical significance. The golden dial features an intricate engine turned pattern, complementing the case’s design and its outer ring is adorned with Roman numerals for the hours and it has Breguet hands which are crafted from steel. The movement houses an early and highly intriguing calibre, featuring a cylinder escapement. The cylinder escapement, a precursor to more modern escapement mechanisms, was renowned for its reliability and accuracy during this era. However, what sets this timepiece apart is its musical mechanism. The watch is equipped with an automatic release on the hour, allowing for a harmonious melody to grace the ears of its owner.
The dust cover bears the signature of its maker.
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Diameter: 53.5 mm
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Weight: 110 g
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Signed: Benac à Besançon 
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Benac
Benac was a watchmaker based in Besançon, France around 1800. The city of Besançon was a hub of watchmaking during this time and was known for producing high quality timepieces. Some notable timepieces produced by Benac include pocket watches, chronometers, and marine chronometers.
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The special calibre of this pocket watch is one of the earliest pocket watches with a musical mechanism.