732 - Vauchez à Paris lady's verge pocket watch, repeat à toc, gold, enamel, pearls, probably circa 1800

Vauchez à Paris lady's verge pocket watch, repeat à toc, gold, enamel, pearls, probably circa 1800 Gold, enamel and pearls, case of 750 yellow gold, bezel and rim of the back cover with surrounding pearl setting. Open-face lady's verge pocket watch with repeat à toc: pressing the upper push piece releases the striking mechanism, and the time is made audible by knocking against the case. Dial inscribed "VAUCHEZ", movement plate signed "A PARIS" and with movement number "1356", inside of the case with three hallmarks and the number "951", at the top of the push piece with French eagle's head hallmark for 750 gold. Back with translucent blue enamel over a guilloché sunburst ground with central rosette. White enamel dial with Arabic numerals, dotted minute track with the numbers 15, 30, 45 and 60 at the quarter positions, Breguet hands, winding hole for the key between 2 and 3 o'clock. Gold-coloured full-plate movement with verge escapement, pierced and engraved balance cock and regulator disc, key winding. Key included. Blue enamel of the back with fine scratches, watch runs. D. 42 mm, H. 15 mm, weight 55 g (total weight). Daniel Vauchez, also spelled Vaucher or Vauché, became a Parisian master watchmaker in 1767 and is recorded from 1769 to 1790 in the Rue Saint-Pierre-aux-Boeufs on the Île de la Cité near Notre-Dame. His son Jean-Henri-David Vauchez likewise became a master in 1779 and a juré in 1786. The repeating pocket watch, also called a repeater, strikes the time at the push of a button; in the repeat à toc the hammer strikes the case directly instead of a gong. Since 1838 the eagle's head has been the official French guarantee hallmark for gold with a fineness of 750/1000.