Charles Cabrier, London, Movement No. 2845, Case No. 2845, 52 mm, 116 g, circa 1710

An unusual, extremely rare and very fine silver and enamel pair-cased verge pocket watch
Case: outer case - silver/brass/enamel. Inner case - silver, case maker's punch mark "JPF". Dial: silver, champlevé style. Movm.: full plate movement, chain/fusee, three-arm steel balance.

An unusual watch throughout! The fine miniature painting "Venus, goddess of love, in her bed-chamber with her lover Adonis" is uncommon for a watch in a silver case; from the outstanding quality of the miniature we would normally expect the watch to have a more valuable gold case. The delicate and sophisticated enamel work and the mythological subject is also rare in an English watch dating from the early 18th century. It is quite possible that Cabrier had the case made in France or that it was created by a French maker who lived in England – particularly since Cabrier was French and had emigrated to England himself.

Charles Cabrier I
Cabrier was a Frenchman who emigrated to England after the Edict of Nantes had been revoked. He became a member of the Clockmaker’s Company in 1698 and died in 1726. His son and grandson were also called Charles and renowned watchmakers in their own right.