French single handed gold enamelled verge watch Circa 1650-1680

Gold single handed watch by Nicolas Gribelin (the Younger?)
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A fine and rare French gold watch with enamel decorated case, circa 1650-1660, movement circa 1680. This watch, typical of those from the seventeenth century, is wound using a key from the back. The back plate of the watch features impressive ornamental metalwork (gilded brass, steel, partly blue, and silver), as does the dial. The watch case was likely crafted by an unknown Parisian enameler (probably Robert Vauquer, school of Blois) who created a miniature scene on the cover inspired by a lost painting of Anthony and Cleopatra by French artist Sebastian Bourdon (1616–1671). The landscape depicted on the case’s interior was inspired by a print from another French artist, Laurent de La Hyre (1606–1656). The back plate of the movement bears the signature Gribelin Paris, probably for Nicolas Gribelin, a member of a large family of clockmakers who were active in seventeenth-century Blois. He is recorded as having worked in Paris as early as 1674 for Philippe, duc d’Orléans (1640–1701), brother of King Louis XIV (1638–1715).
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Diameter: 60 mm
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Signed: Gribelin a Paris
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Enamel painting in Blois thrived with the support of Gaston, duc d’Orléans (1608–1660), the French king’s uncle. Meanwhile, Paris also emerged as a significant centre for production.
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In 1675, the balance spring was invented, and some watchmakers attempted to regulate the mainspring using only the balance, without the fusee. However, these movements were not very successful as timekeepers. Despite this, the delicate steelwork used for winding the mainspring and the lacelike ornament of the silver cock can be appreciated for their aesthetic qualities.
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Nicholas Gribelin, Paris watchmaker, France.
Nicholas Gribelin was born in Blois on November 27, 1637, to the watchmaker Abraham Gribelin (Valet de Chambre-Horloger du Roi) and Judith Festeau. He was one of the most famous watchmakers of his time towards the end of the 17th century. He was appointed Horloger de Monsieur le Dauphin, son of Louis XIV, in 1674 and received as master at the Faubourg Saint-Germain on June 5, 1674. He was Guard Visitor from 1676 to 1678 and 1684 to 1686.
Around 1682 he lived in the Rue Saint Germain and worked as a clockmaker in Paris in the Rue de Bussy. He married Marie Dubois and the family of Isaac, Jacques and Charles Gribelin, goldsmiths in Rue de Bussy. In 1695 he and his colleague Balthazar Martinot organized a grand raffle for clocks at court. He then resided in the rue des Boucheries au faubourg Saint-Germain, Parish of Saint-Sulpice (1709).
On August 2, 1682, he became the godfather of Nicolas Langlois, son of the watchmaker Jacques Langlois and Hélène Corban. Nicolas was also the godfather of Nicolas Deseine, June 23, 1686, son of master watchmaker Pierre Deseine and godfather of Nicolas Godde, son of Jean Godde l’aine and Suzanne Gribelin. Godmother was Anne Belon, daughter of Pierre Belon and married to Balthazar Martinot. He was also the godfather of Nicolas Gossuin, son of Paul Gossuin and Sarah Soret, from December 22, 1690.