Early French Silver Onion Type Verge Pocket Watch. De Lisle. France, Circa 1680

Very early French silver oignon-type verge pocket watch, signed De Lisle, made in France circa 1680 and in excellent condition. Oignon watches (French word for onion) appeared in the late 17th century and they owe their name to their big size and curved shape. This one is a single needle watch. The watch mounts a polished-silver double-body Oignon pocket watch case, hinged on one side and with button snap closure opposite. The glass over the dial conforms to the onion shape of appropriately named case. The white enamel dial has radial Roman hours and bar-shaped quarter hour ring to the inside of the hours, with dots at the hour markersand clusters of dots at the half hours. It mounts a single forge steel Beetle-type hour hand with a balustrade tail. The dial is unsigned and has center post winding, with a button at 6 for opening the cover.The watch has a gilt-brass full-plate movement with divided Egyptian pillars, fusee with chain, crown wheel escapement with plain steel three-armed balance, fine steel and silver Tompion-type regulator (Thomas Tompion) with a timing disc that doesn't have numbers in, since French movements of that time do not bear this numbering, unlike English movements, and round pierced gilt-brass balance bridge stressing the theme of the Fleur-de-Lys, especially in the center of the bridge. Of note, is the fact that the balance bridge takes up the majority of the back plate, typical of French movements made during that period. The balance cock is secured with two screws attached to the two small wings at the sides. Such bridges were made in France between c. 1665-1765. Signed on the back plate, De Lisle, Paris.This very early French silver oignon-type verge pocket watch signed De Lisle is a real collectors piece for its ancient age and amazing condition.Dimensions: 55 mm.