Antique French Breant a Paris Pocket Watch – Empress Catherine II The Great 1780

An incredibly rare, investment-grade horological artifact of monumental historical importance, crafted specifically for the Imperial Court of Empress Catherine II The Great circa the 1780s. This extraordinary spherical pocket watch seamlessly marries the pinnacle of late 18th-century French watchmaking with breathtaking bespoke lapidary art.

This piece was commissioned for the highest echelons of the Imperial Court. It features direct, unmistakable Royal provenance in the form of deep, gilded high-relief Imperial insignia mounted directly onto the carved stone case:

• The Personal Monogram of Empress Catherine II (the Cyrillic “E” for Ekaterina), elegantly intertwined and mounted beneath the Imperial Royal Crown.

• The Imperial Coat of Arms, featuring the iconic double-headed eagle in striking gilded relief.

Watches bearing this level of bespoke artistry and specific royal insignia were strictly reserved as presentation pieces for the sovereign, high-ranking nobility, or vital diplomats within Catherine the Great’s inner circle.

The Hand-Carved Agate “Oignon” Case The case of this watch is a breathtaking work of art in itself. It is a traditional thick, spherical Oignon (onion) style case, but rather than being crafted from conventional gold or silver, it has been painstakingly hand-carved from a single, massive piece of precious banded Agate. The stone displays mesmerizing natural striations of creamy white, deep rust, and translucent banding. The two stone hemispheres are secured by solid, gold plated hinged mounts. Creating a functional watch case from a solid gemstone required extraordinary skill and was an incredibly costly endeavor during the 18th century, further confirming its status as an elite royal commission.

The Advanced Fusee Cylinder Movement (Breant a Paris) Opening the front bezel reveals not only a stunning hand-painted miniature portrait dial of Empress Catherine II but also an incredibly significant mechanical movement signed by the esteemed French maker Breant a Paris.

Crucially, this is not a standard verge fusee movement. This watch features an exceptionally rare, early Fusee Cylinder Escapement. While the traditional verge escapement dominated watchmaking for centuries, the cylinder escapement was the “next generation” of horological technology. It offered vastly superior friction reduction and significantly improved timekeeping precision, effectively rendering the old verge system obsolete. To find a cylinder escapement utilized in conjunction with a fusee chain mechanism in an 18th-century French watch is exceptionally rare and represents the absolute cutting-edge technology available to the royal court at the time.

Detailed Specifications

• Maker: Breant a Paris (Signed on the movement)

• Era / Date: Circa 1780s

• Provenance: Imperial Court of Empress Catherine II The Great

• Case Material: Hand-carved precious Agate stone with heavy gold (tested) hinges, bezels, and royal mounts.

• Case Style & Dimensions: Thick, spherical “Oignon” style case. Substantial 51mm diameter.

• Exterior Motifs: Gilded high-relief Catherine II Monogram under the Royal Crown, and the Imperial double-headed eagle.

• Dial: Crisp white enamel chapter ring with Roman numerals. The center features a finely hand-painted miniature portrait of Empress Catherine II in full regal attire. The winding aperture is located at the 2 o’clock position.

• Hands: Original, delicate antique hands.

• Movement: Highly advanced mechanical Fusee Cylinder escapement. The beautifully gilded full-plate movement is protected by an intricate, hand-pierced balance bridge (coq). Key-wind and key-set.

• Accessories: Comes complete with a properly fitted antique winding and setting key.

• Operational Status: Perfect working condition. The movement winds smoothly, the delicate fusee chain is fully intact, the advanced cylinder escapement operates beautifully, and it keeps highly reliable time for a watch of this era.

Comprehensive Condition Report

• The Agate Case: Exceptional, museum-grade antique condition. The hand-carved agate stone is pristine, completely free of any cracks, chips, or structural damage, which is miraculous for a 240-year-old stone case. The gold mounts and hinges are incredibly secure. The high-relief royal insignia remain sharp and firmly attached.

• The Dial: The enamel chapter ring and the central hand-painted portrait are in outstanding condition. The portrait colors remain vivid, and there are no distracting hairlines or chips on the enamel.

• The Mechanics: The gilded plates of the Breant a Paris movement are immaculately clean and completely free of rust or corrosion. The hand-engraved details remain sharp, and the advanced cylinder escapement is in excellent health.

Terms, Shipping & Handling Given its immense historical value, precious stone construction, and direct royal provenance, this extraordinary timepiece will be handled with the utmost professional care. It will be meticulously packaged in a custom, crush-proof, climate-insulated container to ensure absolute safety during transit. Dispatched utilizing highly secure, tracked, and fully insured expedited international shipping (DHL Express) with required signature confirmation to guarantee its safe arrival anywhere in the world. Please thoroughly review all high-resolution macro photography provided to fully appreciate the remarkable stone carving, striking royal insignia, portrait dial, and advanced mechanical integrity of this historic artifact prior to purchasing. Should you require any further technical details or historical context, please do not hesitate to contact us.

The watch comes with CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY&APPRAISAL FOR $9000

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