Pascal Hubert of Rouen, is another of the same family of clock and watchmakers tracing their origins back to Estienne ler. and Noel Hubert. Recent information would indicate that they were brothers, and both makers of some repute, as Etienne made a watch that belonged to Mary, Queen of Scots, and Noel was the founder of the Rouen Corporation. Pascal, the maker of this watch was the son of Estienne Ier. and therefor a cousin of Estienne II (see lot 21). He became master as Fils de Maître in November 1649, Garde in 1697, and died before 1701. 'Oignons' without fusee are extremely rare, and Jacques Gloria is reputed to have been the first to produce them in France at Dieppe, circa 1680-85. It vas thought that with the increased precision that could be achieved by fitting the newly invented balance spring, the fusee was no longer needed - a saving of both time and effort in the construction of the movement. However, it \vas quickly found that the advantage of the balance spring vas cancelled by the vagaries of the somewhat crude mainsprings available. (For a discussion of the Gloria regulator and the power reserve indicator, see the following lot). Rare as such watches are, they are virtually unknown when fitted with a striking train as in the case of this lot.