French 18K gold, enamel, diamond and pearl-set pocket watch Circa 1795

Gold open faced verge pocket watch
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An elegant French 18K gold painted-on enamel, diamond and pearl-set pocket watch, circa 1795. The back is finely painted with a classically dressed couple in a landscape by a flaming urn, white enamel and gold paillon swag below with applied silver and rose-cut diamond-set L’Amitie, translucent royal blue enamel background, bezels set with pearls within white enamel borders, concealed hinge. White enamel dial, Arabic numerals, outer minute divisions, with fifteen-minute Arabic numerals and pierced gold hands. A hinged, gilt brass 3/4 plate movement, integrated ring on the dial plate which makes the movement thin while also protecting it from dust, fusee and chain for the going train, verge escapement, three-arm brass balance, blued steel balance spring, two-footed continental cock pierced and engraved with six symmetrical tulips. Dial and movement signed.
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Diameter: 53 mm
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Signed: Gregson  Paris
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This watch was in all likelihood made by Jean Gregson. Of British origin, he was a watchmaker to the King. Gregson must have been considered as one of the best by his contemporaries as he was chosen in 1786 to be a member of the Royal Clock Manufactory Commission. Only three other watchmakers were on the commission: Breguet, Berthoud and Lepaute.
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The present watch is a particularly fine example of the granulation technique of decoration and has been preserved in good condition. Granulation, a technique using tiny beads of gold, was employed – and probably invented – by the ancient Etruscans, who created jewellery highly sought-after throughout the Mediterranean. Most watches using this method employed a technique in which ready-to-apply gold beads were soldered onto the surface, forming the desired pattern.