Castel, born in Cologne, recorded in Ai mans in 1692, in 1718 he took over the business of Maillet in Bourg, having made clocks for the town of Bourg as early as 1708. Died in 1727 and succeeded by his two sons who Founded a watchmaking school and received the Royal Warrant. The ITuaud dynasty were undoubtedly the most prolific enamellers of the 17/18th century Geneva school, and it seems likely that they employed in their workshops, or as ounvorkers, a fair number of the other enamel painters recorded in town records as working in the period. I-Iowever, there are small groups of surviving cases, some signed, most anonymous, that exhibit the work of enamellers whose technique was markedly different. One such artist was jean Mussard, (1681-1754), who is identified with working in enamel on copper, and it is tempting to attribute this watch without question to Iris hand. However, there are differences which may point to another artist, or at the very least, to an evolution of technique. lean Mussard ' s work is usually characterised by pronounced stipplepoint technique; by comparison the finish of this watch is exceptionally smooth. Whereas gold enamelled Geneva cases normally have a high gloss finish akin to oil painting, enamels on copper exhibit a finish closer to gouache. The best are of notably sharp focus and have vibrant and clear colouring without any harshness. Preserved in the Dr. E. Gschwind Foundation in Basle is a small (40mm.) gold and enamel watch, with movement signed Richard Street, the case undoubtedly of Geneva origin, decorated with the same scene of Amphitrite, surrounded by Tritons and Nereides. The palette of colours is so similar to the watch offered for sale, that either the two cases are the work of the same artist, or there were painted by different artists, working from the same master picture. Literature Antignorum, Geneva, April 1994, Lot 307 for a watch attributed to Mussard. Dr. E. Gschwind, Geneva Watches, Catalogue 1978, item 21 - I or the Richard Street watch.