
Pocket Watches · Pocket watch
F. Rotig Havre Gold Quarter Repeating Calendar Pocket Watch, 1880
- Maker / attribution
- Unrecorded in source
- Date
- 1880
- Historical period
- Industrial Revolution (1850 – 1900)
- Country of origin
- Unrecorded in source
- Object type
- Pocket watch
- Materials / technique
- gold
- Dealer
- WatchMuseum.org shop
- Stock no.
- Product 4321
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, WatchMuseum.org shop (product 4321)
- Catalogue title (original)
- F. Rotig Havre Gold Quarter Repeating Calendar Pocket Watch (English)
View the source record (dealer listing) ↗ (opens another website in a new tab)Suggest a correction
Record summary
Catalogued by WatchMuseum.org shop (stock number Product 4321), this is a pocket watch, dated 1880. The Atlas places it in the Industrial Revolution period (1850 – 1900) of its Pocket Watches collection. Materials and techniques recorded by the source: gold. The record is illustrated with 6 photographs.
Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.
Catalogue description
Dealer description — WatchMuseum.org shop
Introducing a stunning F. Rotig Havre Gold Quarter Repeating Calendar Pocket Watch from the year 1880, a true masterpiece of horological craftsmanship that seamlessly blends functionality with timeless elegance. This exquisite 18Kt rose gold and enamel keyless pocket watch is a testament to the meticulous artistry and precision engineering of the late 19th century. With a 50mm open face design, this remarkable timepiece not only tells the time but also features a quarter repeating mechanism, a calendar, a compass, and a thermometer, making it a multifunctional marvel. The intricate details and superior quality materials used in its construction highlight the exceptional skill and dedication of its makers, ensuring that this pocket watch remains a cherished heirloom for generations to come. Whether you are a seasoned collector or a connoisseur of fine timepieces, the F. Rotig Havre Gold Quarter Repeating Calendar Pocket Watch is a captivating addition to any collection, embodying the rich heritage and enduring allure of antique horology. Introducing a stunning F.Rotig Havre 18Kt Rose Gold and Enamel Keyless Quarter Repeating Calendar Open face 50mm Pocket watch with Compass and Thermometer, originating from around 1880. The exquisite white enamel dial features Roman numerals and an outer minute ring, along with three subsidiary dials for date, month and seconds. The recessed aperture for the compass and mercury Fahrenheit thermometer add a unique touch to this already incredible timepiece. All original rose gold hands complete the elegant look. Encased in a fine 18Kt Rose Gold case, the engine turned case to the rear is intricately centred by an elaborate gold and enamel background. A white enamel banner beneath is inscribed in red with ‘Ameeroodeen Tyabjee’, whilst green enamel leaves hang from a banner and a yellow enamel crescent moon and star appear above. The whole design is flanked by two lions rampant. The milled bezels with repeating slideto band provide a smooth and seamless finish. The polished inner cuvette is engraved with F. Rotig Chronometer maker, Havre, and is numbered, indicating that this timepiece originated from the French port of Le Havre. The highest quality damascened nickel finished movement features a lever escapement, fully jewelled to the center arbour, bi-metallic compensation balance, and blued steel overcoil hairspring with woolf’s tooth winding. This stunning F. Rotig pocket watch is truly an exceptional and rare piece, with its many complications adding to its allure and desirability. F. Rotig was an independent watchmaker who produced very few watches, making this piece even more special and unique. This pocket watch would make a fabulous addition to any collection and is sure to remain a treasured timepiece for generations to come. Creator: F.Rotig Havre Case Material: Gold,18k Gold Case Shape: Round Case Dimensions: Diameter: 50 mm (1.97 in) Place of Origin: France Period: 19th Century Date of Manufacture: 1880 Condition: Good
Historical context
Industrial Revolution (1850 – 1900)
American interchangeable-parts manufacture; railroad time standards; Swiss and German factory systems.
Machine production with interchangeable parts, pioneered by Waltham (1850s) and adopted by Elgin, Longines, Omega and others, made reliable lever watches widely affordable. Keyless winding became standard, railroad watch standards were introduced (1890s), and Swiss and American industries competed globally.
Read the period in the timelineMore pocket watches from this periodEarlier: Precision & Scientific Horology
Atlas type guide
Repeating watches
Before electric light, telling the time in the dark was a real problem. Repeating watches strike the time on demand when a slide or push-piece is operated: quarter repeaters sound hours and quarters, minute repeaters hours, quarters and minutes. Edward Barlow and Daniel Quare disputed the invention in London in the 1680s. Early repeaters struck on a bell inside the case; Abraham-Louis Breguet introduced the gong (a coiled steel wire) around 1780, allowing thinner watches.
Repeaters require a separate train with racks, snails and a governor to control the striking speed, and are among the most demanding complications to make and adjust. Swiss makers of the Vallée de Joux specialised in repeating ébauches in the nineteenth century.
What to look for
- A slide on the case band or a push-piece through the pendant.
- Gongs encircling the movement (after c. 1780) or a bell in the case (earlier); pierced case for sound.
- The racks, snails and governor visible under the dial or on the movement.
- Terms such as 'Minutes', 'Quarts' or 'Répétition' on the dial or cuvette.
Dating clues
- Bell-striking quarter repeaters: c. 1690–1800.
- Gong repeaters and dumb repeaters (striking on the case): after c. 1780.
- Minute repeaters became more common after c. 1830 with Vallée de Joux ébauches.
General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.
Read next:Minute repeater
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