Attributed to Conradt Kreizer

Attributed to Conradt Kreizer, Germany, circa 1620. Very fine and rare, lobed rock crystal, gilt bronze-mounted, hour-striking, pre-balance spring, single- hand watch. Lobed, with four triangular points, cut from a single piece of rock crystal, faceted on the back, the top with gilt brass pierced and engraved dome terminated with a glazed bezel for the dial, small round pendant, loose ring, small finial. Silver, champlevé radial Roman numerals, half-hour markers, center with champlevé floral decoration. Blued steel "tulip" hand. Oval, 30 x 26 mm, full plates, fusee cut for a chain (now with gut), short three-wheel train, verge escapement, circular steel foliot, irregular pinned cock pierced and engraved en suite with the set-up click, fixed engraved barrel for the striking, bell mounted under the dome, count wheel on the back plate.Dim. 61 x 40 mm. Notes During the second quarter of the 17th century, magnificent rock crystal watches of various shapes were created. The present shape is extremely rare; only a few similar watches are known. One, formerly in the Prince Soltykoff Collection and now in the Louvre Museum, was made by Conradt Kreizer, and has a similar mechanism with hour striking, as does the present watch. The cases and the dials are strikingly similar, the movement differs only in its details.Another watch in the same shape, also in the Louvre, was made by Louis Vautier from Blois. Although the shape of the case is the same, with four triangular points on