Lot 237

Presumably French, 33 x 50 x 24 mm, 58 g, circa 1650
A rare, one-handed Renaissance pre-balance spring pendant watch in a rock crystal case
Case: rock crystal, firegilt brass frame. Dial: brass, applied silver chapter ring with Roman numerals. Movm.: octagonal full plate movement, chain/fusee, verge escapement, plain two-arm brass balance without balance spring.

The case is made of bevelled rock crystal mounted in a gilt brass frame. The pendant has the shape of a flower and is fitted with a loose ring. The dial has a very puritan design, only the movement has a floral decorated balance cock.
By the end of the sixteenth century geometrically shaped watches such as square, hexagonal, trapezoidal, and circular timepieces became fashionable. Octagonal watches began to appear around 1575. Although most circular and octagonal watches have circular movements, the shape of this movement is octagonal. The watch cases were usually made from brass or silver; only very rarely were they created from hollowed-out rock crystal or amethyst.

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