Important Watches, Pocket Watches and...

Noga Hilton Hotel, Nov 13, 2005

LOT 190

?Coach Watch? Jean Drouynot a Poitiers, France. Made circa 1660. Very fine and rare, early and small, silver, singlehand pre balance-spring hour-striking coach watch.

C. Two-body, "bassine", deep back with curved-in band pierced and engraved with flowers and foliage, polished back, loose ring pendant, split bezel. D. Silver, hinged, champlevé with bold radial Roman numerals separated by small rosettes, inner quarter hour ring, center engraved with flowers, outer engraved gilt border. Blued steel large fleur-de-lis hand. M. 64 mm., gilt metal, full plate with turned vase pillars, fusee and chain, verge escapement, plain brass balance with flat balance spring (originally pre-balance spring foliot), engraved and foliate pierced single-footed small cock, worm and wheel mainspring set-up, striking train driven from a foliate pierced fixed barrel, silver numbered count wheel mounted on the back plate, striking with single hammer on a large pork-pie bell mounted in the back of the case. Movement signed. Diam. 84 mm.