Swiss pair-cased verge pocket watch with alarm Circa 1685

Silver verge pocket watch by Pierre Mestral
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A Swiss silver pair-cased verge pocket watch with alarm, circa 1685.
Two cases: outer case – silver with leather-covered, applied stud decoration, sound holes and large lateral hinge, inner case – silver, lavishly pierced case band with elaborate engravings of foliage and animals, oval cartouche with townscape at 6, engraved sun symbol at the pendant, rear bell. Silver champlevé dial with inlaid radial Roman hours, Arabic numerals on a central rotating alarm disc and blued hands. Keywind signed and gilt full plate movement, chain and fusee, pierced barrel for the alarm, one hammer, baluster movement pillars, applied blued iron click work, three-arm iron balance, brass balance bridge with signs of the zodiac on a blued silver cover.
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Diameter: 56 mm
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Weight: 203 g
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Signed: Pierre Mestral à Genève
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Pierre Mestral was born in Geneva on December 31, 1651, and baptized in Saint Gervais on January 1, 1652. He was the son of Pierre Mestral and Louyse Ayme. Pierre married Esther Janvier in 1678. She was the daughter of the master watchmaker Etienne Janvier and Jeanne Desprez. From Pierre’s marriage to Esther, a few children were born from which only two children grew up. Sébastien Mestral was born on August 7, 1684, and François Mestral was born on April 5, 1688. The son of Sébastien Mestral was also François Mestral and married Anne Mussard daughter of the goldsmith and enamel painter Jean Mussard. The Mussard family was well-known as goldsmiths. Pierre Mestral was the tutor of François Baveu in 1667.