French remarkable Renaissance crucifix watch Circa 1650

Open faced rock crystal watch by Jean Gaspard
–
A French single-hand Renaissance rock crystal crucifix pendant watch, circa 1650.
A remarkable rock crystal watch in excellent original condition and unusually small size. The case has a faceted rock crystal cover and a rock crystal back in a fire gilt brass frame. The dial is decorated with the most beautiful foliage scrolls; a view of a lakeside town with swans on the lake graces the centre of the tapered dial. A winged heart is engraved on the narrow bottom end of the dial. It comes from the original book “Devises et emblemes” by Daniel de la Feuille from 1691 and bears the title “Un Cœur enlevé par les Ailes” (A heart carried away by wings). The inner frames of the rock crystal covers are also lavishly embellished.
An in the form of a crucifix case, holding bevelled rock crystal parts mounted in a fire gilt, carved brass frame; silver dial with an engraved view of a town, on fire gilt brass ground; cruciform brass full plate movement with applied floral decorations, a verge escapement, a chain/fusee, a ratchet wheel set up, two-arm steel balance without spring, and a florally engraved pierced balance cock.
–
Diameter: 39 x 53 mm
–
Weight: 61 g
–
Signed: Jean Gaspard Du Val
–
Unfortunately, we know no more about Jean Gaspard Du Val than his date of birth, circa 1600. Brian Loomes lists him but without giving a location.
Another rock crystal pendant watch by Du Val is exhibited in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York; it was originally part of the J. Pierpont Morgan Collection before being donated to the museum in 1917.