Abraham Cailliatte

Abraham Cailliatte, Geneva, the case definitively attributed to Pierre I Huaud, le Père, Geneva,circa 1670. Very fine and important 22K gold and enamel pre-balance spring watch. Double-body, entirely decorated in enamel, the band using a champlevé technique with engraved gold foliage and rabbit hunting emblems in a deep turquoise ground, the back with a painted enamel scene of Venus and Adonis, after Annibale Carracci, the interior with a landscape in the style of Gabriel Perrelle. Later gold protecting case, engine-turned in a woven pattern. Enamelled gold, the centre with an allegory of Summer and white chapter-ring with Roman numerals, half and quarter-hour divsions. Single blued-steel single hand. Hinged gilt brass full plate with turned balluster pillars, fusee with gut line, three-wheel train with verge escapement and plain two-arm steel balance without spring. Pierced and florally engraved oval section gilt brass balance cock, applied pierced and engraved silver overlay surrounding the signature, the brackets supporting the worm-and-wheel regulator of similar design, with silver indicator disk.Signed on the back plate.Diam. 36 mm. excluding the later gold protecting case. Notes Abraham Cailliatte, (1642-1710)Originally a refugee from France, he appears to have specialised in gold and enamel watches. Examples exist with cases of French origin, (Musée du Louvre, Inv. No. OA8332) as well as this watch with case by Pierre Huaud I and an example by Pierre Huaud II (Dr.