Vauchez Gold and Enamel Verge Pocket Watch
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
late 18th century
This late 18th-century gold open-face pocket watch is equipped with a verge movement, signed "Vauchez A PARIS" on both the white enamel dial and the movement plate.
The case is constructed from gold and heavily decorated with translucent blue enamel over a guilloché ground, accented with a central green and white floral motif. The bezel features green enamel and white beads designed to mimic split pearls. The movement is a full-plate, fire-gilded calibre featuring a fusee, a pierced and engraved balance bridge with a steel coqueret, a three-arm gilt balance wheel with a blued steel hairspring, and a silver regulator dial with a blued steel hand.
The dial displays Arabic hour numerals and unusually large minute markers, with decorative gold hands. Time-setting is performed directly from the dial.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Dial
- White enamel
- Type
- Verge & pair-cased watch
- Maker
- Vauchez A PARIS
- Regulator
- Silver disc with blued steel hand
- Dial markers
- Arabic numerals
- Balance bridge
- Pierced and engraved with steel coqueret
- Case materials
- Gold, enamel
- Mechanism type
- Verge fusee
- Place recorded
- France
- Maker / attribution
- Vauchez
Design
- Visible features
- • Case back features guilloché pattern under blue enamel • White enamel dial has a prominent winding hole • Balance bridge is highly ornate with delicate fretwork • Bezels are decorated with white dots intended to resemble seed pearls
- Dial and Timekeeping Display
- The dial is composed of white enamel and displays a clear signature of the maker, Vauchez, along with the city of origin. The indices consist of Arabic numerals for the hours, accompanied by minute markers noted for their unusually large size. Time is indicated by a pair of ornate gold hands, which contrast with the white enamel background. The overall layout adheres to the aesthetic norms of late 18th-century French watchmaking.
- Case and Aesthetic Decoration
- The watch is housed in an open-face gold case designed with a focus on ornamental enamelling. The case back features a guilloché ground overlaid with translucent light blue enamel, centered by a detailed floral design finished in green and white enamel. The bezels are further enriched with green enamel accents and miniature white dots that serve to imitate the appearance of split pearls. A gold pendant and a circular suspension bow are integrated into the case structure. The presence of hidden hinges provides a clean profile when the watch is closed or viewed from the side, reinforcing the high level of decorative finish applied to the exterior elements of the timepiece.
- Movement and Technical Construction
- The movement is a full-plate design with fire-gilded surfaces, incorporating a classic fusee mechanism to ensure consistent power delivery. It is fitted with a steel coqueret. The escapement is controlled by a simple three-arm gilded balance wheel paired with a blued steel hairspring. Regulation is managed via a silver regulator dial, which is adjusted using a blued steel hand. The movement is further supported by round pillars, consistent with the construction of this calibre.
Identification
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: Condition of the fusee chain is unverified
- Research required: Integrity of enamel layers, particularly around the winding hole, is not guaranteed