Antique Leton Enameled Verge Fusee Pocket Watch. France, Circa 1820

Delicate enameled verge fuse pocket watch, made in France circa 1820 and in fine condition and working order. The watch case is French and is signed by J. F. Valeri Leton, while the movement was made in Switzerland. The gilt-brass case has three caps, with the rear cap decorated with a colorfully enameled a genre farm scene. In the scene, the mother is giving the young man, her son perhaps, the rod he uses to control the flock of sheep. Meanwile, one of his sheep looks on. The edge of the cap is ornamented with small gilt and silver forms. A gilt-brass long-necked pendant and oval bow sit at the twelve position relative to the dial. The inside of the cap has the engraved name of the case maker/enameler, Leton, who worked in Paris at the end of the 18th century. The white enameled dial mounts what appears to be Breguet Arabic hours, open dotted minute track with Arabic fifteen-minute markers, placed at the quarter hours on the periphery of the dial. The steel hands are mismatched: the hour hand closely resembles a cathedral-bell style, while the minute hand is similar, but not matching. The watch has a verge escapement with chain fusee movement, with segmented square baluster pillars and no decorative fretwork. The design of the balance bridg , held in place with two screws, is repetitive and not flowing scrollwork as we see in English and French designs.. The plates are totally unmarked. This is most likely a Swiss made movement for this particular French watch. During the 18th century the French worked closely with the Swiss in order for the Swiss to supply the French watchmakers with parts and roughed out ebauche pocket watch movements. This singular antique enalemed verge fusee pocket watch stand out for its good working order and beautiful hand-decorated case. Dimensions: 50 mm.