Pre balance spring verge, Dieppe, c1640

An early 17th century French verge watch, with original dial and movement, in a later gilt case.
In exceptional condition for such an early watch.

MOVEMENT : A fine gilt verge pre balance spring movement, with a beautifully engraved and pierced balance cock. Small steel reeded balance wheel, with two spokes. Mainspring set up is by a steel worm screw on the top plate, with silver regulator disc and fine blued steel brackets.

The single hand is driven from the fusee wheel which is driven by a gut line from the mainspring.

Beautifully signed “Jean Le Moyne, A Dieppe”, and numbered CCVI.

All in good condition and running.

DIAL : A wonderful original polychrome enamel dial, showing two young people. A bold chapter ring, typical of the period. A replacement hand, but of the correct style for the period.

The dial is in wonderful condition for the age of the watch. No repairs and just a couple of hairlines within the chapter ring.

CASE : Later hunter style brass case.

In good condition, though with signs of an old repair around the bezel. The hinge and the catch are fine and the bezel closes correctly.

This case dates from the late 18th century and was probably made specially for the watch.

This watch is rare in that it remains without a balance spring, and has never been converted.

There are no listings for a watchmaker of this name in Dieppe in the early 17th century, but the Le Moyne family were well known in Dieppe during the 17th century.

Charles Le Moyne was born in Dieppe in 1626 and went to New France (later Canada) in 1641. Perhaps he was of the generation after Jean the watchmaker.
Charles later became Lord of Longueuil. His sons were involved in the development of southern United States, and were founders of Louisiana and New Orleans.

There are examples of very similar to this watch in the fine reference book by Adolphe Chapiro – “Montre Francaise du XVI siecle jusqu’ a 1900”.