Barthelemy Soret

Barthelemy Soret, circa 1660. Very fine and rare 22K gold, enamel and agate, pre-balance spring watch, the leather covered protecting case with gold pique work decoration. Double body, bassine with loose-ring pendant, the frame of gold decorated with a floral decoration enamelled en pate, plain back cut from a single large piece of agate. Gold white enamel with Roman numerals and centred with a small painted flower. Blued steel single hand. Hinged gilt brass full plate with urn pillars, three wheel train, fusee with early chain, verge escapement, brass three-arm balance without spring, oval foliage pierced gilt brass cock secured by a screw, ratchet wheel setup. Signed on the back plate. In very good condition. Diam. 35 mm. including the protecting case. Notes Except those made of rock crystal, watch cases carved from semi-precious stones with gold and enamel mounting, are extremely rare. Most of them were produced in Germany. It is therefore exceptional to find such a watch with the signature of a Geneva watchmaker. Most of the few others known to exist, were in the Collection of the King of Naples. Barthelemy Soret (1633-1717), originated from Blois, settled in Geneva in 1654 where he married Suzanne Ferroux in 1655. His brother Pierre Soret was his apprentice in 1658. Another watch with enamelled gold mounted agate case, made by Rousseau in Geneva, was sold by Antiquorum in Geneva on April 1996, lot No. 49.