An early French ‘oignon’ verge, with very unusual single handed movement.

MOVEMENT : Gilt verge movement, with a large engraved and nicely pierced, balance bridge and small regulator disk. Signed MARCHAND A DIJON.

Running well.

This movement is very unusual. The fusee is cut in reverse, so the whole train, right up the escape wheel, runs in reverse. The escape wheel also has to have the teeth angled in reverse to accommodate this. The chain winds clockwise around the fusee, opposite to the direction of a normal fusee movement, so the watch is wound anticlockwise (from the dial side).

DIAL : Nice gilt dial with black & white enamel cartouche chapter ring, and inner enamel chapter showing quarters (typical for a single handed watch). In good unrestored condition, with some damage at I, V and IX, some chips to the enamel rim, and some hairlines mostly to the top right.

Blued steel hand, of the correct style but a replacement.

CASE : A gilt brass case, in good condition though much of the gilding has worn through to the brass. The stem and bow both appear to be original. The hinge is fine and the bezel closes nicely.

The high dome bull’s eye crystal is in good condition.