Diamond Star Barraud

Diamond Star Barraud, London, No. 2982. Made for the Chinese market, circa 1800. Extremely fine and very rare, large, 18K gold, enamel, rose-cut diamond-set and pearl-set pocket watch with center-seconds. Two-body, split pearl-set bezels, the pendant decorated with royal blue and white enamel stripes, the spring-loaded back opened by a push-piece in the band and overlaid with translucent royal blue enamel over wavy-line and pyramidal engine-turning, the center set with a silver mounted rose diamond-set star, the center set with a very large rose-cut diamond. White enamel with radial Roman numerals, outer dot minute divisions, Arabic 15-second numerals. Gold baton hands. 41 mm, full-plate, going barrel, cylinder escapement with brass escape wheel, three-arm flat-rim steel balance, blued steel flat balance spring, index regulator, gilded cock mounted over the entire backplate fully engraved gilt with foliate decoration. Dial numbered, movement signed and numbered. Diam. 58 mm. Notes Barraud The first watchmaker of the family was Francis-Gabriel (1727-1795). His sons Paul-Philippe (1752-1820) and John (dates unknown) were working with their father by 1780. In 1796 he entered into a partnership with William Howells and George Jamison, to make chronometers based on Mudge's original design. Howells, who had been Mudge's junior worker, brought with him important technical knowledge. Alongside Barraud's production of chronometers, a range of other clocks and watches were pro Read more…