French 18kt gold pendant watch.

Beautiful French Ladies 18kt Gold 1850-1900 Ladies Watch and Pendant in need of refinishing. Attached original purple velvet protective box with gilt lettering. Curious small size watch used as a pendant in solid gold. Beautiful golden dial with simple central reticular design, and enameled Arabic numerals, where each number appears surrounded by a delicate vegetal decoration. Louis XIV type hands decorated with stylized vegetal scrolls. Dial bordered by a beautiful decoration of small pearls, where the top pearl is missing. The back cover is beautifully decorated with a central diamond in antique cut, set in chaton and bordered by a chiseled flower petals. The central diamond is followed by beautiful borders with chiseled decoration in the form of small gold balls and continuous foliage decoration, all topped with a border of small pearls, identical to that found on the front. Pendant and crown at 12 o'clock. Watch accompanied by beautiful fob based on oval links with rope decoration inside joined by simple rings. It appears contrasted on the crown and can be located thanks to the word 'Lyon' engraved on the back. The movement does not work, although aesthetically it is undoubtedly a very beautiful piece. The invention of the spring mechanism in 1500 gave rise to portable watches that were worn on a cord. These early clocks were considered true pieces of jewelry, as they served primarily as ornaments, since in most cases they did not tell the time properly until 1670, with the development of the balance spring. At that time the minute hand appeared, as well as the minute divisions on the dials. Eventually the lever escapement replaced the other escapements and was used in practically all mechanical watches. French watches are characterized by a profuse decoration in which many times, as in this case, diamonds were included, which raised its price considerably. It was also very common for women to wear this type of watches as if they were just another piece of jewelry, showing their prestige. There were a great number of watches made especially for women, with hooks to hang on the dress or with a chain like this one. The decorations were of the most varied, with precious stones, different colors of gold or enamels, but almost always with a profuse decoration lacking in most of the watches for men. Piece with a magnificent aesthetic that makes it a piece that every watch collection should have. Measures: 29 mm diameter