Very fine French gold verge oignon pocket watch Circa 1705

Gold quarter repeating oignon watch
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A very fine and exceptionally rare French 20 carat gold cased, Louis XIV oignon watch, circa 1705. With quarter repeating and gold dial, one of only four known examples in a gold case. The back is chased and engraved with foliate strapwork, dogs and masks, a formal border with pierced sound frets, the bezel decorated with stylized foliage, square hinge.  Gold dial with blue radial Roman numerals on white enamel cartouches, inner quarter hour ring, outer engraved minute divisions and black Arabic five minute numerals on white enamel cartouches, chased centre, winding aperture at 4 o’clock and fine steel beetle and poker hands.
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A matte gilt full plate movement, divided Egyptian pillars, fusee and chain, click and pawl set up, verge escapement, three arm steel balance, flat balance spring, pierced and chased cock decorated with inhabited foliage and strapwork, Tompion type regulator with silver scale disc, repeating with a single hammer on a bell in the back of the case activated by depressing the pendant. Movement and bell are signed.
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Diameter: 59 mm
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Signed: Frizon  Paris
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Any secular gold object surviving from the reign of Louis XIV is exceptionally rare, a watch, being in regular use particularly so. Wars, bankruptcy and greed down the centuries have ensured the destruction of almost all such watches, only four with original gold cases are known to survive today: the present watch, another by Delorme, Paris, sold by Sotheby’s, Geneva, May 15th, 2011, lot 127, sold for 56,250 Swiss Francs and two others in the Patek Philippe Museum, Geneva. The present watch is of large size and also retains the original gold and enamel dial with beautiful blue numerals. The hands are also very finely made.