Fine French silver quarter repeating oignon watch Circa 1720

Silver verge pocket watch 
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A French silver quarter repeating oignon pocket watch made by Pierre Gaudron in Paris, circa 1720. Signed verge movement with an exceptionally large and magnificently decorated balance bridge, repeating the hours and quarter hours on a bell. Typical white enamel Louis XV dial with Roman hours, an outer minute track, Arabic five minute numerals, the original minute hand and a replaced hour hand. The silver case with sound openings.
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Diameter: 57 mm
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Weight: 177 g
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Signed: Gaudron Paris
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Pierre Gaudron, Paris watchmaker
Pierre Gaudron is noted as an outstanding watchmaker. He was the son of Antoine Gaudron and worked in Paris between 1690 and 1730. Pierre also made watches on behalf of the government, and was a court watchmaker of the Duc d’Orleans and the King of France. Gaudron became a master in 1695. He died on May 20th, 1745.
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Oignon watch
A watch style made in France in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Its thick, bulbous form is reminiscent of an onion. Most pieces feature a chased brass case, occasionally in silver and, on rare occasions, gold. In later centuries, oignon watches became a familiar and ironic term for a large, thick watch.