Rare French 18 carat gold and enamel pocket watch Circa 1740

Gold open faced verge  
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A rare French 18 carat gold and enamel open faced pocket watch, circa 1740. The white enamel case back is mounted with a raised gold and partially translucent enamelled mythological scene surrounded with gold and blue engine turned rosette scrolls. White enamel dial, Roman hours, outer minute track with Arabic five minutes markers and blued steel poker & beetle hands. Gilt brass full plate movement, pentagonal pillars, fusee with chain, verge escapement, plain balance, flat spring with regulator and continental cock with trellis pattern decoration. Signed Jn. Louis Argand on the back plate and Bouvier on the back of the case.
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Diameter: 50 mm
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Signed: Jn. Louis Argand
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Guillaume Bouvier is recorded as working in Paris around 1740, being one of a family specializing in the enamelling of watch cases and working in both France and Switzerland. A small group of watch cases bearing his signature are recorded and at least one signed plaque.

It is usual for this technique of overlaying gold on enamel to be attributed to the Fromery workshops in Berlin, but the existence of many German enamel boxes with French mounts would indicate that there was a flourishing production in Paris as well. This particular example is of exceptional quality and in outstanding condition.
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Comes from the Demidoff Collection.