J. Gallay

J. Gallay, Genève, No. 1631, circa 1850. Fine 18K gold, enamel and silk, rectangular diamond-set purse fitted with a watch. Three-body, hinged, the lid has a central spring-loaded watch cover decorated with translucent green enamelwith a diamond-set flower basket over an engine-turned ground, surrounded by floral and foliate engraving andengine-turning, it opens to reveal three pale blue silk compartments, the engine-turned bottom with foliate andscroll engraving. White enamel, Roman chapters, outer minute ring. Blued-steel "spade" hands. 18 x 32.6mm., rectangular, gilt brass bridge caliber, 10 jewels, cylinder escapement, plain gilt three-arm balance, flat balance spring, index regulator with a pin protruding through to the dial side.Stamped J GALLAY GENEVE, 1631 on the movement under the dial, numbered on the gold plate surrounding the dial.Dim. 76 x 54 mm.Published in the Sandberg book, pp. 474-475 Notes Jean Gallay was a watchmaker and merchant. He is recorded at the rue du Mont Blanc 2 in 1857, and at the rue Kléber 119 ter in 1860. "Dictionnaire des Horlogers Genevois", by Osvaldo Patrizzi, Antiquorum Editions, Geneva, 1998.