1 - Auguste FOURGEAUD, in Nîmes.

Auguste FOURGEAUD, in Nîmes. 18K yellow gold (750 parts per thousand) pocket watch. The case is marked "G.A." Enameled dial with Roman hour numerals, colored Arabic minute numerals, and a railway-track minute scale. Guilloché gold case, signed “A. FOURGEAUD in Nîmes – Gold Medal.” The back of the case is numbered 31134 and bears a goldsmith’s hallmark. Mechanical movement with key winding. Late 19th century. Gross weight: 33.32 g. H. 4.8 - D. 3.2 cm. Auguste Fourgeaud was a Nîmes-based watchmaking, jewelry, and goldsmithing firm, formerly located at 6 Place de l’Hôtel de Ville and now largely forgotten. A reviewer of the 1863 Nîmes Exhibition of Industrial and Manufactured Goods wrote of it: “The meticulous craftsmanship of such a small watch can only be the work of a skilled, intelligent watchmaker far above the ordinary level. According to Mr. Saunier, there are today in France an exceedingly small number of watchmakers capable of producing a similar piece.” He concluded by describing him as “a skilled artist whom the city of Nîmes should consider itself fortunate to have.” On December 24, 1902, the entire inventory of his workshop was sold at a public auction presided over by Notary Keller; we can therefore date the end of his career to that same year.