Swiss verge pendant watch in the shape of a crucifix Circa 1650

Rock crystal and gilt metal form watch by Charles Bobinet
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A rare Swiss gilt metal and rock crystal cruciform watch, circa 1650. The watch features a signed gilded full plate cruciform movement with a verge escapement, intricately decorated pierced and floral engraved screwed-on balance cock and foot, a flat three-arm brass balance, worm and wheel set-up, fusee and gut line, and lyre-shaped pillars. The silver dial showcases engravings of flowers, foliage, and a dolphin, encircled by a chapter ring with Roman numerals and half-hour divisions. It is elegantly mounted on a gilded plate engraved with scrolling flowers and foliage, complemented by a blued steel hand. The multi-faceted case includes rock crystal covers on both the front and back, enhanced by gilt metal mounts and a short gilded pendant and terminal.
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Length including pendant: 58.5 mm,
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Width 34 mm
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Signed: Charles Bobinet
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The dial appears to be in good overall condition, although the rock crystal on the front cover is cracked across its width at the top of the lower length and chipped towards its centre. The cover closes securely and the movement is running at the time of cataloguing. There are a couple of small pin holes beneath the foot of the balance cock where the cock has previously been pinned, as well as a further hole to the backplate just above the centre of the worm and wheel set-up.
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Charles Bobinet, a Swiss watchmaker, was born in or around 1610 as the son of Pierre Bobinet from Poitou, France. Pierre fled to Geneva after St. Bartholomew’s Night. Charles Bobinet married Françoise Adelhardt in July 1637 in Geneva, and their daughter Pernette Bobinet (1649-1695) was born from this marriage. Though based in Castelnaudary, Aude, France for several years, Bobinet was a teacher to several individuals, including Jean Bastard in 1638, Vincent Perissel in 1639, Pierre Chenevière in 1654, François Chenevière in 1655, and Jacques Sullin in 1664. Charles Bobinet passed away on September 15, 1674, in Geneva at the age of 56.
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Another watch by Charles Bobinet, also cruciform, with rock crystal covers and a similar decorative scheme to the present watch, may be found in the collections of the Victoria & Albert Museum in London (museum number M.560.1910). Further rock crystal watches by Charles Bobinet are located at the Metropolitan Museum, New York (silver, rock crystal and enamel in cruciform) and the Fitzwilliam Museum (scalloped-shaped rock crystal case). In addition to the cruciform watch mentioned above, the Victoria and Albert Museum have a further rock crystal watch by Charles Bobinet with a scalloped-shaped case.