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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Verge pocket watch

Diana the Huntress Gold and Enamel Verge Watch

Partially verified

This 20K gold verge pocket watch is attributed to the maker Vivier L'ainé, working in Rouen, France, circa 1710. The piece is distinguished by an elaborate two-body bassine case, featuring enamel work on copper attributed to Jean Mussard V. The back of the case displays a portrait of a lady depicted as Diana the Huntress, while the front and back bezels are painted with continuous landscape scenes including bridges, rivers, trees, and houses. The dial is a hinged gilt construction featuring raised foliage decoration at the center, surrounded by white enamel hour cartouches and dual enamel rings for minutes and quarter hours. The movement, measuring 42.3 mm, is a gilt brass full-plate design featuring square baluster pillars, a verge escapement, and a gilded, engraved double-footed balance cock.

Front view of the gold and enamel watch, displaying the miniature portrait of Diana the Huntress on the case back and the elaborate landscape enameling on the bezel.
Front view of the gold and enamel watch, displaying the miniature portrait of Diana the Huntress on the case back and the elaborate landscape enameling on the bezel. — Antiquorum. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
catalog.antiquorum.swiss
Category
Pocket watch · Verge pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Vivier L'ainé A Rouen
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
322
Source-reported date
circa 1710
Source-reported place
France

Source-reported attribution and specifications are not independent authentication. A listing does not establish present ownership, current display, availability or permission to reproduce.

Object description

Case and Enamel Work

The watch is housed in a two-body, circular case constructed from 20K gold and enamel on copper. The rear of the case features a polychrome enamel miniature portrait depicting a woman posing as Diana the Huntress. The case design is completed by painted landscape motifs that extend across the front and back bezels, depicting trees, houses, rivers, and bridges.

The enamel execution is attributed to Jean Mussard V. The overall diameter of the finished piece is 59 mm, and the case construction is identified in the auction record as a potential bassine configuration.

Evidence for this section
  • “C. two-body, ?bassine?, enameled on copper, the case with a portrait of a lady posing as Diana the Huntress.”
  • “Front and back bezelspainted with continuous scenes of rivers, bridges, trees, and houses.”

Dial and Timekeeping

The dial is a hinged, gilt-metal assembly centered by raised foliage decoration. Time is indicated through a series of white enamel cartouches marked with blue Roman numerals for the hour chapters.

Surrounding the hour track are two additional enamel rings: an inner ring denoting quarter hours and an outer ring marked with Arabic numerals at five-minute intervals. The display integrates artistic enameling with functional time-telling elements within a single hinged plane.

Evidence for this section
  • “D. hinged, gilt with raised inhabited foliage decoration in thecenter, white enamel cartouches with blue Roman hour chapters”
  • “outer ena- meled minute ring with Arabic five-minute numerals, innerenameled quarter hour ring.”

Movement and Construction

The internal mechanism is a gilt brass full-plate movement measuring 42.3 mm in diameter. It is configured with square baluster pillars and utilizes a fusée and chain to power the going train. The watch is regulated by a verge escapement paired with a plain three-arm balance and a blued-steel balance spring.

The balance cock is crafted from gilded metal and is finished with pierced, symmetrical scrollwork engravings. The movement features a wheel and click set-up for winding and is signed by the maker, Vivier L'ainé of Rouen.

Evidence for this section
  • “M. 42.3 mm ø, gilt brass full plate, square baluster pillars, fusée and chain for the going train, verge escapement”
  • “gilded double-footed cock pierced and engraved with symmetrical scrolls,wheel and click set-up.”

Open research questions

  • What is the specific horological history or biographical data regarding the maker Vivier L'ainé?
  • Does the 'bassine' case construction align with known examples from the Rouen region during the early 18th century?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Diana the Huntress Gold and Enamel Verge Watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MakerVivier L'ainé A Rouen“Vivier L'ainé A Rouen”
Material20K gold and enamel“large 20K gold and enamel watch”
Dial decorationRaised inhabited foliage“gilt with raised inhabited foliage decoration in thecenter”
Movement diameter42.3 mm“42.3 mm ø”
EscapementVerge“verge escapement”
PublicationThe Sandberg Watch Collection“This watch is published in The Sandberg Watch Collection book, pages 122-123.”

Visible details

  • The case back depicts a miniature portrait of a woman identified as Diana the Huntress.
  • The dial uses white enamel cartouches to display Roman numerals for the hours.
  • The balance cock is decorated with symmetrical scrollwork engravings.
  • The winding system utilizes a traditional fusée and chain mechanism.

Research qualifications

  • The exact identity of the enamel artist remains attributed rather than confirmed.
  • The specific 'bassine' case classification is provided with a question mark in the source text.

Photograph identity and source facts were screened before import; rights clearance remains pending.

Consulted source

Diana the HuntressVivier L'ainé A Rouen, enamel attributable to Jean Mussard V, circa 1710.Very fine and rare, large 20K gold and enamel watch.

Reviewed 2026-10-26 · Record 81255fc5d6

Terms in this record

Glossary explanations for terms named in this object’s record.

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