FERDINAND BERTHOUD, GOLD POCKET WATCH, SWISS CIRCA 1760 44 mm diameter yellow gold case, hallmarked 18K on the inside, decorated on the back with a musical scene in the three golds, protected by an underglass cover, white enamel dial with Roman numerals for the hours, Arabic numerals in 5 o'clock for the minutes, fine gold hands worked and decorated with chiselling; movement with verge escapement signed Berthoud in Paris. Weight 63.2 g. Watch with 19th century winding key, watch currently in working order. FERDINAND BERTHOUD IN PARIS, AN 18K YELLOW GOLD OPEN FACE VERGE POCKET WATCH, SWITZERLAND CIRCA 1760 Ferdinand Berthoud was born on 18 March 1727 in Plancemont, in the district of Val-de-Travers, in the canton of Neuchâtel in Switzerland, into a family of notables and pendulum clockmakers. He was one of the most important French watchmakers. In 1753, he was awarded the title of Master Watchmaker in Paris. Clockmaker and Mechanic to the King and Navy, he left a very rich legacy of works, particularly in the field of marine chronometers. On 20 June 1807, he died at the age of 80, leaving no children. He was buried at Groslay, in the Montmorency valley (Val d'Oise department), where a monument in his memory stands. Ferdinand Berthoud's career is extraordinary, as are the historical periods he went through, from the Enlightenment to the First Empire, surviving the Revolution. His talent was recognised by his contemporaries, enabling him to become a member of the Institut National and to enjoy the coveted post of Watchmaker Mechanic to the King and Navy under the reigns of Louis XV and Louis XVI, as well as under the First Empire.