French silver quarter repeater pocket watch Circa 1720

Large oignon watch with sound openings
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A large oignon pocket watch with repeater, made by Jean-Philippe Gosselin in Paris, France, circa 1720. The very beautiful case of this watch was crafted from silver and features florally designed sound openings and a bell. The exceptional cartouche dial features an outer track with Arabic 5 minute numerals in cartouches, blue Roman hour numerals in cartouches and very beautiful iron hands. The movement is fitted with a verge escapement and a quarter repeater.
The movement is signed
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Diameter: 60 mm
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Weight: 194 g
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Signed: Gosselin, à Paris
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The bell in the item presented here has been replaced and is no longer original.
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Gosselin
Jean-Philippe Gosselin (circa 1690 – 1766) was a well known and important watchmaker. He is especially known for his complicated pocket watches and musical table clocks. Amongst others, he is considered one of only a few manufacturers of oignons with astronomical indications.
He succeeded his father, Jacques, in his business after training under him, and became a master on 26 August 1717.
His works can be found amongst others in the Metropolitan Museum, the Woodstock Museum and the La Chaux-de-Fonds Museum.