Soret. A fine and impressive silver, gold, enamel and paste-set urn-form watch with integral armorial seal

The present watch and its highly attractive, lavishly decorated urn-shaped case is a perfect example of the fashion for such novelty timepieces in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Of relatively large and impressive size, it was evidently intended for use at the owner’s writing desk, the foot is engraved with an aristocratic coat-of-arms and ducal coronet to be used for the sealing of important documents.

The Sorets were originally from Blois, France, and became members of the bourgeoisie in Geneva in 1668. Several generations of reputed watchmakers originated from the first settlers.