French silver single hand astronomical coach clock Circa 1770

Coach clock with date and day of the week
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An important, museum quality, single hand astronomical coach clock with alarm, date and day of the week, made by Pierre Charmy in Lyon, France, circa 1770. This pair cased silver watch features an outer case with sound openings and its original leather cover adorned with decorative nail work. The finely engraved inner case, also pierced with sound openings, is richly embellished and displays four distinct portraits of grotesque faces on the back. The white enamel dial has Roman hour numerals, an outer chapter ring for date indication, inner minute divisions, an innermost, central track for the days of the week by planets and a magnificent gilt hand to indicate the time. The movement is fitted with a fire gilded verge escapement, alarm and time setting on the plate and alarm on a bell.
The movement is signed.
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Diameter: 120 mm
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Weight: 990 g
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Signed: Charmy Lyon
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The item presented here comes with a probably original figurative silver key with a representation of a bird. Astronomical coach clocks are absolute rarities. This is the only coach clock known that has both an alarm and these rare astronomical complications.
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Charmy
Pierre Charmy officially became a master watchmaker in Lyon in 1763. By the 1770’s, he was a prominent figure in the flourishing watchmaking scene of Lyon, France. During this “Golden Age” of French horology, Lyon served as a major center for the craft alongside Paris, Strasbourg and Marseille.