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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Verge pocket watch

French Gold and Enamel Verge Pocket Watch

Partially verified

This late 18th-century verge pocket watch is French in origin, featuring a consular-style gold case adorned with elaborate enamel work. The case back displays a polychrome enamel scene depicting fishermen, a bridge, and a riverside landscape. The case rims are decorated with a pattern of gilt lozenges set against blue enamel. The white enamel dial is marked "Breguet a Paris" and features Roman numerals and gilt hands. The watch is powered by a full-plate, gilt movement equipped with a fusee and verge escapement. The balance cock is bridge-style with delicate piercing and engraving, paired with a gold-plated three-arm balance and a blued steel hairspring. The regulator uses a silvered plate with a gilded indicator. The rectangular gold pendant is finished with enamel on two sides, with the motor number and the initials "LG" engraved on the remaining faces.

Rear view of the pocket watch featuring a polychrome enamel scene of a riverside with fishermen and a bridge.
Rear view of the pocket watch featuring a polychrome enamel scene of a riverside with fishermen and a bridge. — Zamanito. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
zamanito.com
Category
Pocket watch · Verge pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Breguet a Paris
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
Source URL identifies the listing
Source-reported date
Late 18th century
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 Dial

The watch is housed in a consular-style gold case, which serves as a canvas for decorative enamelwork. The rear of the case is decorated with a polychrome enamel painting depicting a riverside scene containing fishermen and a bridge. The case edges are accented with a geometric pattern of gold lozenges set against a blue enamel background.

The dial is constructed from white enamel and features Roman numerals for the hours. Time is indicated by gilt hands, and the watch is wound via a hole located directly on the dial. The rectangular pendant is also decorated with enamel on two surfaces, with the initials "LG" and the movement number engraved on the other sides.

Evidence for this section
  • “در یک قاب کنسولار (Consular) از جنس طلا همراه با تزیینات ظریف میناکاری ارائه شده است”
  • “بخش پشتی قاب دارای یک نقاشی میناکاری چندرنگ (پلی‌کروم) است که صحنه‌ای از کنار رودخانه همراه با ماهیگیران و یک پل را به تصویر می‌کشد”
  • “صفحه ساعت از مینای سفید ساخته شده و اعداد رومی دارد”

Movement and Escapement

The watch is driven by a full-plate movement finished with gold plating. It utilizes a traditional verge escapement and a fusee for power regulation. The balance cock is a bridge-type component characterized by intricate piercing and engraved details.

The movement assembly includes a simple three-arm, gold-plated balance and a blued steel hairspring. The regulator system comprises a silvered plate featuring a gilded indicator, which allows for fine adjustment of the timing mechanism.

Evidence for this section
  • “موتور ساعت از نوع تمام‌پلیت با روکش طلا و مجهز به سیستم فوزه (Fusee) و چرخ‌دنگ چکشی (Verge) است”
  • “خروس بالانس از نوع پل‌دار با برش‌ها و حکاکی‌های بسیار ظریف به همراه کوکرت فولادی”
  • “تنظیم‌کننده ساعت دارای صفحه‌ای نقره‌ای همراه با نشانگر طلاکاری‌شده است”

Signatures and Authenticity

The dial bears the signature "Breguet a Paris." However, the source indicates that in the 18th-century antique watch market, Parisian decorative or trade signatures were frequently applied to verge watches.

Because of this practice, the source specifies that the legitimacy of the signature and the identity of the maker should be evaluated independently by collectors and experts prior to acquisition.

Evidence for this section
  • “صفحه ساعت با امضای «Breguet a Paris» طراحی شده است”
  • “در بازار ساعت‌های عتیقه قرن هجدهم، امضاهای تزئینی یا تجاری پاریسی روی ساعت‌های چکشی مرسوم بوده”
  • “مشخصات اصالت انتساب به‌طور مجزا مورد ارزیابی قرار می‌گیرد”

Open research questions

  • What is the significance of the 'LG' initials engraved on the pendant in relation to the watchmaker?
  • Does a microscopic examination of the 'Breguet a Paris' signature provide evidence of period application or later addition?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for French Gold and Enamel Verge Pocket Watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
Maker signatureBreguet a Paris“صفحه ساعت با امضای «Breguet a Paris» طراحی شده است”
Case typeConsular“در یک قاب کنسولار (Consular) از جنس طلا همراه با تزیینات ظریف میناکاری ارائه شده است”
Movement typeVerge escapement with fusee“موتور ساعت از نوع تمام‌پلیت با روکش طلا و مجهز به سیستم فوزه (Fusee) و چرخ‌دنگ چکشی (Verge) است”
Case decorationPolychrome enamel landscape“بخش پشتی قاب دارای یک نقاشی میناکاری چندرنگ (پلی‌کروم) است که صحنه‌ای از کنار رودخانه همراه با ماهیگیران و یک پل را به تصویر می‌کشد”
Pendant markingsLG and movement number“بر روی دو وجه دیگر آن، شماره موتور و حروف «LG» حکاکی گردیده است”
Dial materialWhite enamel“صفحه ساعت از مینای سفید ساخته شده”
Regulator mechanismSilvered plate with gilt indicator“تنظیم‌کننده ساعت دارای صفحه‌ای نقره‌ای همراه با نشانگر طلاکاری‌شده است”

Visible details

  • Case rims feature blue enamel with a gilt lozenge motif
  • Dial features Roman numerals and a winding hole for key-wind mechanism
  • Rectangular pendant with inlaid enamel detail
  • Movement features a bridge-style balance cock with intricate piercing

Research qualifications

  • The auction description indicates that the authenticity of the Breguet signature is subject to independent evaluation
  • The working condition of the movement and the state of the fusee chain are not documented in the source

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

Consulted source

French Gold and Enamel Verge

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record 4d04c89588

Terms in this record

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

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