Single Hand Verge by Alexandre

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

MOVEMENT : Gilt verge movement, with a very large and beautifully engraved and pierced silver balance bridge. Small, early style silver regulator disk and set up. Signed ALEXANDRE A PARIS.

The movement is wound anticlockwise from the steel square in the centre of the dial.
The hand is driven from the 2nd wheel of the movement train (no central wheel as with a two handed watch).

Fine condition and running well.

DIAL : Nice gilt dial with blue & white enamel cartouche chapter ring, and inner enamel chapter showing quarters (typical for a single handed watch). In reasonable condition, but with some restored damage at IIII and VI, and just a few hairlines.

There are unused holes in the dial plate of the movement, so these indicate the this is a replacement dial. However it is of the correct style and date for the movement and fits the case perfectly.

Nice steel hand, which could be original.

CASE : A gilt brass case, with embossed decoration to back and bezel. In very good condition with a little wear to the gilding. The stem and bow both appear to be original. The hinge is fine and the bezel closes nicely.
The crystal has some small chips around the edge.

A maker named Alexandre is listed in Paris c1700. This watch probably dates from a little earlier, around 1690.