German Renaissance watch with self-strike and alarm Circa 1630

Open faced pocket watch by Nicolaus Schmidt the Younger
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An important German single-handed pre-balance spring Renaissance watch with 24 hour indication, hour self-strike and alarm, circa 1630.
Brass firegilt case; pierced and lavishly florally ornamented back cover and band, rear bell. Brass firegilt dial; silver chapter ring with inlaid radial Roman numerals “I-XII” and Arabic numerals “13-24”, engraved firegilt alarm disc in the centre, applied hour knobs for time reading by night, engraved bezels, iron hand. Firegilt brass full plate movement; monogrammed, verge escapement, locking plate with internal teeth, 2 hammers, solid movement pillars, stackfreed, foliot and hog’s bristle.
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Diameter: 56 mm
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Weight: 170 g
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Signed: NS Augsburg
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Nikolaus Schmidt the Younger Nikolaus Schmidt was born in 1582. He was the son of Nicolaus Schmidt the Elder and was master in Augsburg in 1620. His watches were signed “NS” or “Nikolaus Schmidt der Junger”. He died in 1637.