Swiss gold quarter repeater with virgule escapement Circa 1790

Gold, enamel and pearl set pocket watch
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A fine and rare Swiss 18 carat gold, polychrome enamel and pearl set pocket watch with virgule escapement, circa 1790. The quarter repeater on two bells by Chevalier & Cochet, Geneva. Case with a polished band, seed pearl set bezels, the back cover set with a finely painted polychrome enamel panel depicting a mother and child by a crib in a classical landscape, a baby on her knee, translucent royal blue enamel background over sunray engine turning, blue paillon and white enamel dot border.
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White enamel dial with Arabic numerals, outer star minute divisions and Arabic quarter hour numerals. Pierced gold hands. A frosted gilt movement, crescent shaped backplate with two bells sunk into the movement, flared cylindrical pillars, going barrel beneath the bells, virgule escapement, three arm balance between the dial and dial plate, flat blued steel balance spring, wheel and arbour regulator, repeating with two hammers on two bells activated by depressing the pendant. Dial signed. Bell scratch signed Chenevière.
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Diameter: 51 mm
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Signed: Chevalier & Cochet  Geneva
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The movement of the present watch is a rare type in which the two stacked bells are integrated into the movement. Most of the few watches known to exist, fitted with similar movements, also carry the signature of the Genevan watchmakers Chevalier & Cochet. However, other examples have been discovered, variously signed by Pepin in Genève, Moricand in Genève, Bordier & Cie in Genève and Scherer & Fils. It was not known which maker invented this type of movement until the discovery of the scratched signature Inventé par Antoine Rojard on the movement of the watch by Bordier & Cie.