Rare French gold pearl set montre a tact watch Circa 1820

Fine and rare gold enamel and pearl set montre a tact watch
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A fine and rare gold enamel and pearl set montre a tact watch circa 1820, virgule escapement, internal small silvered dial with Arabic numerals, blued steel hand, signed and numbered cuvette, radiating engine turned case with translucent brown enamel, the band with applied gold beads and seed pearls corresponding to the hours, the cover with arrow shaped pointer accented with rose diamonds, case signed.
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Diameter 43 mm
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Signed: Le Roy
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The montre à tact watch was invented by Abraham-Louis Breguet between 1796 and 1800. It was used to tell the time in the dark or when one was in company, by discreetly touching the case. When the montre à tact hand is turned until it meets resistance the location gives the indication of the time, the hand then remains stationary while the watch continues to function.