Pierre Duhamel

Pierre Duhamel, Geneva, circa 1660. Extremely fine and rare, 22K gold, enamel and rock crystal, diamond-set, single-hand, lady's pendant watch with short gilt silver and enamel, diamond- and pearl-set short chain. Double-body, "bassine fermée", the front and back covers in carved rock crystal, divided into 12 equal radial sectors and mounted in gold frames painted on enamel with flowers and leaves, somehow later short diamond-set pendant and bow. Small silver ring with Roman chapter applied on gilt floraly engraved dial plate. Single steel hand. Hinged, gilt brass full plate, unusual lyre-shaped pillars, fusee and chain, short four-wheel train with five leaf pinions, three-spoke arched wheels, verge escapement, steel two-arm circular foliot, elongated gilt brass cock.pierced and engraved with floral decoration secured by a screw, worm and wheel mainspring setting.Signed on the back plate.Diam. 32 mm. Notes A rare example of a mid-seventeenth century rock crystal watch in almost perfect condition.A very similar watch was in the King of Naples Collection, subsequently in Lord Sandberg's Collection (see Antiquorum, The Sandberg Watch Collection, March 31 and April 1, 2001, lot. 213).Pierre Duhamel II (1630-1686)Born in Marchenoir, Loir-et-Cher (France), he was the son of Pierre. He settled in Geneva where he became Master in 1654 and married that same year. He had seven children, four daughters and three sons. Duhamel made astronomical watches, and also watches in ename