Swiss 18 carat gold navette shaped ring watch Circa 1800

Gold ring watch by Du Pont
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An extremely rare Swiss 18 carat gold, enamel and rose cut diamond set ring watch with visible balance, circa 1800. Navette shaped case, the bezel decorated with green champlevé enamel and gold stylised flower heads on a blue champlevé enamel ground, sliding cover opening to reveal apertures for winding, hand setting and regulation, the shank with foliate shoulders. White enamel dial, navette shaped, chapter ring in the lower half with Arabic numerals, outer dot minute divisions and Arabic quarter hour numerals. Aperture for the visible rose cut diamond set balance in the upper half with mirror polished plate and blued steel spear hands. Navette shaped, matte gilt movement, going barrel, cylinder escapement, blued steel flat balance spring, rose cut diamond set balance visible through the dial.
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Dimensions: 32 x 20 mm
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Signed: Du Pont  Genève
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Ring watches
Even as early as the 16th century watchmakers were fascinated by the idea of fitting a watch into a ring, however, only a few of them managed such a feat. This did not change during the 19th century; any successful attempt to create a watch of this kind brought immediate fame to its maker, especially if the watch found a prominent buyer. It was probably James Widman’s ring watch that was worn by the Duke of Mantua, and Antoine Rojard’s fame based itself on Napoleon Bonaparte’s watch even the young John Arnold was able to present an exquisite ring watch to King George III of England; this immediately made him a celebrated watchmaker. This ring watch was created by watchmaker Du Pont in Geneva; its case is lavishly decorated with paste stones and the key is likely to be original.