French verge pocket watch with central winding Circa 1695

Silver one-handed pocket watch by Gaudron
–
A French silver and gilt brass one-handed verge oignon pocket watch with central winding, circa 1695.
Foliate engraved case, the glazed back revealing the very finely decorated balance bridge, large lateral hinge. Gilt chased dial with central volute decor, radial Roman numerals on white enamel cartouches and a blued steel hand. Signed fire gilt full plate movement, chain and fusee, Egyptian pillars, three-arm silver balance, pierced and engraved silver balance bridge with foliate scrolls and macarons.
–
Diameter: 59 mm
–
Weight: 168 g
–
Signed: Gaudron à Paris
–
Pierre Gaudron was the son of Antoine Gaudron the elder and brother of Antoine Gaudron the younger. He was considered an outstanding watchmaker and worked in Paris between 1690 and 1730. Gaudron became a master watchmaker in 1695. He made clocks for the government and was watchmaker to the King of France and the Duc d’Orleans. 

Gaudron is often mentioned in old watchmaking books in connection with Julien Le Roy, Jean-Baptiste Dutertre, Henry Sully and Antoine Thiout. Ferdinand Berthoud mentioned him with his remontoire (winder) in “l’Histoire de la Mesure du Temps par les Horloges”, 1802. Pierre Gaudron is probably also the author of a travel book “Mémoire du voyage de Hollande et d’Angleterre que j’ay fait cette année” about a trip in 1715 to Holland and England.

In 1745, a miniature by the Venetian artist Rosalba Carriera was bequeathed to Jean Baptiste Massé (1687-1767), engraver and miniaturist, by his friend Pierre Gaudron. Pierre died on May 20, 1745.