Early French silver rectangular verge pocket watch Circa 1685

Rectangular silver verge by Gribelin
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A French rectangular verge pocket watch in later silver case, circa 1685. Rectangular full plate gilt movement, pierced and engraved balance cock, ratchet wheel set-up. Gilt dial with engraved foliate scroll design, silver chapter ring, Roman numerals and single blued steel hand. Later rectangular silver case. Movement signed.
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Length: 34 mm
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Weight: 69 g
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Signed: Gribelin à Paris
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Nicolas Gribelin Nicolas Gribelin was born in Blois in 1637 as son of clockmaker Abraham Gribelin. By the end of the XVII century he was one of the most famous French clockmakers of the time. In 1674 he was appointed Horloger de Monsieur le Dauphin, who was the son of Louis XIV; Gribelin was received at the Faubourg St. Germain as Master in 1675. Gribelin often worked together with Andre Charles Boulle for the cases of his clocks. When the Dauphin’s clocks were inventoried in 1689, four of then were by Nicholas Gribelin. Gribelin died in 1719; today many museums hold examples of his work.