Paris gold & enamel verge

A beautiful, late 18th century, Paris verge in a fine gold and enamel case.

MOVEMENT : Gilt verge movement, with engraved and pierced balance bridge, silver regulator disk and four round pillars. Signed ‘Berthoud, A PARIS’. All in good condition and running well.

DIAL : Signed white enamel dial. In good condition, with just a tiny flake on the edge at 6 and a another with some small scratches around the winding aperture.

Beautiful matching ornate gold hands.

CASE : A wonderful rose and yellow gold case, with a beautiful polychrome enamel panel to the back. No French gold marks, though a case maker’s mark on the stem (II). The case tests as high carat gold.

Heavily engraved bezel and band with ribbons and garlands of yellow gold over a matt rose gold base. The enamel panel on the back shows 2 women in classical dress.

The hinges and movement catch are both fine and the front cover closes nicely. The gold is in good condition with just a little wear to the inner rim of the bezel between 1 and 4. The enamel panel has some surface scratches and two tiny marks on the edge at 10 and 12.

Ferdinand Berthoud was born in 1727, went to Paris in 1745 and died in 1807.

PROVENANCE : This watch was owned by Mrs Doris Herschorn (d. 1975) and by descent to her son Hugh Sassoon. It was formally in the collection of Hugh and Marion Sassoon, of Meonstoke House, Hampshire.