This is a typical example of a movement having been replaced, perhaps even by its original owner, to keep pace with the technological advance presented by the invention of the balance spring. The movement was conceived and constructed expressly for this case and dial. This is not without precedent; it is known that very fine cases were so treasured by their owners that the best watchmakers of the day were commissioned to make movements especially designed to fit into them. There are several docuented examples of magnificent Blois cases with later movements by Fromanteel, Webster, Leroux, Pyke, and Berthoud, and now Gribelin.The invention by Huygens in 1675 of the balance spring, with its consequent isochronism, met with a great deal of enthusiasm. Many fine watchmakers hoped that the regularity of the balance's oscillations might suffice to render the equalising function of the fusee unnecessary, thus lowering, among other things, production costs. This hope, though short-lived, led to a certain number of trials. It appears that verge watches without fusee originated in Paris (Baltazar Martineau, Gribelin, Thuret,hampion) and then spread to Rouen, by watchmakers such as Gloria.The only other watch known by Gribelin, with similar characteristics, is in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and is also in an enamelled case depicting Anthony and Cleopatra.Gribelin Nicolasson of Abraham, and grandson of Simon, was born in Blois in 1637. He was received master circa 1660 in the Faubourg Saint-Germain-des-Près, and in Paris on 5 June 1675. He was Garde Visiteur from 1676-1678 and 1684-1686, and Clockmaker to Monsieur le Dauphin before 1674. In 1682 he was established in the rue de Bussy. With Baltazar Martinot II, he organized a grand lottery of clocks at Court in 1695, and also worked with l'Abbé Hauteville with the idea of producing eight-day watches. He died in719. Gribelin is recognized as one of the finest clock and watchmakers of the late 17th century.