Swiss 18K gold, enamel and pearl-set verge watch Circa 1815

Gold, enamel and pearl-set verge possibly by Jaquet-Droz
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A Swiss very large 18K gold, enamel and pearl-set open faced verge pocket watch with very rare calibre, circa 1815.
The case back translucent turquoise enamel, restored, set with half-pearls on both sides, one pearl missing, protective lacquer added, white enamel rim on the front as well as on the back, enamelled pendant with paillon decoration, initials TD. Movement with a very rare calibre and small verge escape wheel, which makes the extremely flat design possible. White enamel dial with Roman hours and outer minute divisions, gold hands. Comes with a very fine gold key with bloodstone handle.
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Diameter: 54 mm
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Weight: 75 g
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Signed: No name
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This piece is a very rare collector’s item indeed with the flattest known calibre in a verge escapement. According to the taste of the time, these fine gold and enamel pocket watches should be as flat as possible, which seemed impossible with the vertically arranged verge wheel. Therefore, most of these watches are equipped with a cylinder or virgule escapement. This watch proves that it was also possible with the clever construction to equip these flat calibre with a verge escapement.
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Henri-Louis Jaquet-Droz was born in 1752 in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. He was the son and second child of Pierre Jaquet-Droz and his wife Marianne. At a young age, his father sent him to Nancy, France, to study music, science, mathematics, physics and drawing. Upon his return from Nancy in 1769, Henry-Louis took his place in his father’s workshop, alongside Jean-Frédéric Leschot (1746-1824), a neighbour’s child who had come to live and work with Pierre around 1756. This was the beginning of a close and productive partnership between the three men. When Pierre Jaquet-Droz grew old, the firm was taken over by his son Henry-Louis and Jean-Frédéric Leschot and was called Jaquet- Droz & Leschot. Henri Maillardet was the director of the London branch of the Jaquet-Droz firm that was opened in 1783, although Henri-Louis travelled often to London to look after business. In 184 the Jaquet-Droz company moved to Geneva, the centre of watchmaking. Upon his father’s retirement from the family firm, Henry-Louis naturally replaced him. However, Henry-Louis’ health was poor. He died in November 1791, in Naples, Italy, at the early age of 39. Subsequently, Jean Frédéric Leschot took over the firm.