French single-handed pair-cased verge watch Circa 1650-1660

Gold and leather single-handed pocket watch by Estienne Hubert
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A rare, museum quality, French gold verge pocket watch, circa 1650-1660.
Very early verge movement of outstanding quality, still without hairspring, exceptional skeletonized pillars, and artfully engraved plate. Solid gold champlevé dial with Roman radial hours and single-hand. Two cases; the outer case with very rare decoration, metal, covered with leather, decorated with small gold nails; and the inner case made of gold.
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Diameter: 49 mm
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Weight: 98 g
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Signed: Estienne Hubert à Rouen
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This watch comes from an important collection and costs a small fortune many years ago. The collector paid ca. 35,000 Swiss Francs for this watch. The special feature of the watch is the case, apart from the fact that it is one of the earliest watches by the important Estienne Hubert. Very few watches from this period have gold cases. Almost all watches from around 1650 were made in silver or gilt cases!