German silver hour- and half hour-striking coach watch Circa 1680

Silver single-handed coach watch 
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A fine and rare German, silver hour- and half hour-striking, pre-balance spring single-hand coach watch, circa 1680. The back, band pierced and engraved with inhabited scrolling foliage and centred by two gryphon heads beneath a coronet, two shutters for winding apertures. White enamel dial, large radial Roman numerals, inner half-hour indications. Blued steel single poker hand. A hinged, gilt brass movement, entirely engraved full plate with baluster pillars, fusee and chain, verge escapement, three-arm brass balance with flat balance spring (converted), single-footed cock, count wheel on the backplate, worm gear mainspring set up with engraved tension scale. Signed on the movement.
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Diameter: 70 mm
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Signed: Abraham Louis Morant  Berne
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The case is oxidized, movement is spotted and slightly oxidized,
the dial has some damage.
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Berne, a well-known watchmaking centre from the 17th century, specializes in clocks, mantel clocks, wall clocks, and night clocks. Watches and coach watches such as the present lot were much more rarely made. This watch, like many good watches from the period, was upgraded after the 1675 invention of the balance spring by Huygens. At the same time as this improvement was made, the original silver dial was also replaced by an enamel dial in the French oignon style, which was easier to read and extremely popular at the time.