Swiss gold and enamel lyre form watch with repeater Circa 1790

Possibly unique watch with a verge escapement
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A large, possibly unique, quarter repeating lyre form watch attributed to Jaquet-Droz in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, circa 1790. The numbered case of this watch was crafted from 18 carat gold and features an extremely elaborate design in red and blue guilloché enamel, is set with more than 380 oriental half pearls and has a further lavish setting of rose cut diamonds. Floral elements decorate the face, while the back of the case displays a three dimensional mythological scene of a putto riding a whale. In this scene, water flows from the putto’s musical instrument, enabling the whale to swim. Additionally, the case is designed with a small stand, allowing the watch to be displayed standing. The white enamel dial has Arabic hours, outer minute divisions, Arabic 15 minute numerals and steel filigree hands. The numbered movement is fitted with a verge escapement and repeats the hours and quarter hours.
The case, movement and dial have matching numbers
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Length: 96 mm
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Weight: 80 g
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Signed: No name
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The watch comes in a high quality presentation box with an aristocratic crown and possibly original winding key. The extremely high quality speaks with a large probability for the Geneva manufacturer Jaquet-Droz, from whom comparable objects are known. The standard version of a lyre form watch is small and delicate and without complications. The object presented here, with its exceptionally large size, highly precious finish and pedestal design, is more comparable to the most important Jaquet-Droz gold and enamel watches known to date.