109th Auction
2023/11/18
Lot 94
Pierre Mestral
A Geneva pair-cased verge pocket watch of high quality, with alarm
Sold
estimated
5.000—7.000 €
Price realized
4.000 €
specific features
Case
Outer case - silver, leather covered, applied stud decoration, sound holes. Inner case - silver, lavishly open-worked caseband with elaborate engravings of foliate scrolls and animals, oval cartouche with townscape at "6", engraved sun symbol at the pendant, rear bell.
Dial
Silver, Champlevé style, central rotating alarm disc with Arabic numerals.
Movement
Full plate movement, keywind, gilt, chain/fusee, pierced barrel for alarm, 1 hammer, applied blued iron click work, three-arm iron balance, brass balance bridge with signs of the zodiac on a blued silver cover.
Diam.56 mm
Circa1685
Ctry.Switzerland
Wt.203 g
Pierre Mestral was born in Geneva on December 31, 1651. In 1678 he married Esther Janvier, daughter of master watch and clockmaker Etienne Janvier and Jeanne Desprez. They had two sons, Sébastien and François. Sébastien Mestral's son married Anne Mussard, daughter of the famous goldsmith and enameller Jean Mussard (1681-1754). The latter was a cousin of the Huauds and the most famous enamelist in the early 18th century.
Pierre Mestral died in Geneva on July 22, 1705 at the age of 53.