Swiss gold promotion watch made for the French market Circa 1783

Gold, enamel and pearl-set verge watch
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A very fine and rare Swiss 18K gold, enamel and pearl-set open faced verge pocket watch made for the French market to promote Montgolfier Brothers’ first public manned balloon flights, circa 1783. The solid case with the painted enamel depiction of a village scene showing a manned red and white hot air balloon with spectators below on the reverse, the central plaque reads Montre a la Montgolfier, twisted rope-inspired blue enamel and pearl-set bezels and an inner green and white enamel wreath rim on both sides.
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White enamel dial with radial Roman hours, Arabic five-minute numerals, a winding aperture at 2 o’clock and gold beetle & poker hands. A gilt full-plate movement, turned pillars, fusee barrel, verge escapement, pierced and engraved continental cock with brass-capped polished steel end-piece, gilt three-arm balance, flat hairspring, silver regulator dial.
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Diameter: 42 mm
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Signed: No name
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The case is chipped.
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Conceived by the Montgolfier brothers in 1782, early unmanned balloon flights attracted such crowds the brothers were able to charge an admission fee to watch. With continued improved balloons launched, they were able to promote such a spectacle as a manned balloon flight in 1783, the event was such a success commemorative objects such as clocks, watches and plates were made to celebrate and promote future attendance. Very few of these items have survived.