Rare miniature quarter repeating pocket watch of excellent quality in 18k gold hunter case. 
Made circa 1840s by Paul Garnier - horloger du Roi (watchmaker to the King).The miniature repeater watches are rare, but it's more rare to see it in such high quality, available only from top-level watchmakers.
The watch is equipped with lever escapement (still rare in 1840s) with counterpoised lever and parachute anti-shock system.
Nice steel plate with end-stones for lever and escapement wheel, cut and compensated balance wheel.The quality of this watch is matches to Breguet watches of this period.
You can easily see traces of Breguet workshop influence - movement layout similar to miniature repeating watches by Breguet.
Parachute and speed rate regulator with access through dust cover are also typical features of Breguet watches.
Even ratchet key made in Breguet manner.
In order to keep small thickness of the watches the positive key is used.
The barrel arbor as well as centre wheel pinion has small square holes for winding and setting of time.
The protective glass is drilled to get allow to set time through it. The watch is signed by Paul Garnier - Horloger du Roi.Jean-Paul Garnier was a brilliant French mechanic and watchmaker.
Born in 1801 in a poor family of musicians, Jean-Paul was forced to began his professional career as 10 years old boy as an apprentice in a printing shop, then he completed a locksmith apprenticeship and finally he became a watchmaker apprentice.
Garnier's passion and competence for mechanics secured him a place in 1820 in the workshop of the famous watchmakers of the time—Lépine, in Paris, then in the workshop the famous French clockmaker Antide Janvier. Five years later he started as an independent watchmaker, setting up his own workshop at Rue Taibout 8.Already in 1826 he obtained status of "Horloger Mécanicien des Chemins de Fer et de la Marine" (Watchmaker to the Railroad and Navy).
Almanach of 1839 mentions him as Horloger du Roi (Watchmaker to the King, Louis Philippe who ruled in 1830-1848).Paul Garnier was one of most skillful masters of his time in electric clocks (he first applied electric transmission to clocks in France in 1847 and in 1851 he received a gold medal at the Great Exhibition in London) and has numerous inventions in the field of watchmaking. Let's mention some:
Free escapement and winding constant force (presented to the Academy of Sciences in 1826)
Precision regulator to astronomical data (presented at the Universal Exhibition of Besançon)
Sphygmometer (instrument used to view with the human eye movement of arterial blood)
Revolutions counter
Device that indicates the exact time of passage of the train stationPaul Garnier was a member of the French Society of Civil Engineers and also Chevalier of the Legion of Honour. He was a jury member at the Besançon Universal Timepiece Exhibition.
In 1861, he was chosen by the French government to make proposals for the development and influence of the watch industry.
After his death in 1869, his son Paul Casimir Garnier continued family business.Such a small watches of good quality watches was always extremely expensive and was performed by order of high nobility.
This watch isn't an exception and bears family crest of Dukes of Somerset and their subsidiary title Barons Seymour.
This is old and well-known British family, Wikipedia has a big article on Dukes of Somerset.
The numerous branches of Seymours / Dukes of Somerset used family crest - "Out of a ducal coronet a phoenix rising from the flames", it's hard to determine exact owner.It's worth to note that he crest is very delicately engraved and covered by transparent enamel to protect engraving.The condition is very good - case is in excellent condition, without significant dents, no damages to enamel.
Case bears French hallmark for 18k gold and maker's mark.
The dial seems to be intact.
Movement is in good running condition, repetition works as it should.
Please look the video below the photos.
Diameter is 37mm, heigh is 43mm, weight is 31.2 grams.Great watch, good price, don't miss it. Watches from Breguet workshop of 1810-1840 Family Crest of Seymours - Dukes of Somerset