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Gold and ENAMEL cylinder by brockbanks, 1790 — view 1 of 3
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Pocket Watches · Pocket watch

Gold and ENAMEL cylinder by brockbanks, 1790

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.
Maker / attribution
Unrecorded in source
Date
1790
Country of origin
Unrecorded in source
Object type
Pocket watch
Materials / technique
gold, enamel
Stock no.
Product 1497
Credit line
Dealer listing, WatchMuseum.org shop (product 1497)
Catalogue title (original)
GOLD and ENAMEL cylinder by brockbanks (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 1497), this is a pocket watch, dated 1790. The Atlas places it in the Precision & Scientific Horology period (1750 – 1850) of its Pocket Watches collection. Materials and techniques recorded by the source: gold, enamel. The record is illustrated with 3 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

The “GOLD and ENAMEL cylinder by Brockbanks- 1790″ is an exquisite example of late 18th-century English watchmaking, showcasing the impeccable craftsmanship of the era. Created by the renowned Brockbanks, this center seconds cylinder watch is encased in a pearl-set gold and enamel consular case that exudes opulence and sophistication. Its full plate fire gilt movement, complete with a fusee and chain, is a testament to the intricate mechanical engineering of the time. The watch features a pierced and engraved cock with a delicately chased bust on the table, a diamond endstone, and a silver regulator disc, all adding to its intricate beauty. The plain three-arm steel balance, blue steel spiral hairspring, and polished steel cylinder with a large steel escape wheel highlight the watch’s remarkable precision and durability. The timepiece is wound through a signed gold center seconds dial, which includes a subsidiary chapter above the center adorned with Roman numerals. The matted center is embellished with engraved decoration and blue steel hands, while the gold consular case is further enhanced by bezels set with large split pearls. The cloisonne enamel back, featuring a black ground with translucent polychrome enamel over foliate engravings, adds a unique artistic flair. A button in the pendant allows for the opening of the sprung front bezel, adding to its functional elegance. Signed by Brockbanks London and dating back to circa 1790, this 47mm diameter watch is not just a timepiece but a true work of art, reflecting the grandeur and meticulous craftsmanship of its time. This is a unique late 18th-century English center seconds cylinder watch created by Brockbanks. It features a pearl-set gold and enamel consular case. The watch has a full plate fire gilt movement with a fusee and chain. The pierced and engraved cock has a small chased and engraved bust on the table, a diamond endstone, and a silver regulator disc. The plain three arm steel balance, blue steel spiral hairspring, and polished steel cylinder with a large steel escape wheel make it a remarkable timepiece. The watch is wound through the signed gold center seconds dial, and it has a subsidiary chapter above the center with Roman numerals for time. The matted center features engraved decoration, blue steel hands, and the gold consular case has bezels set with a row of large split pearls. The unique cloisonne enamel back has a black ground with translucent polychrome enamel over engraving forming foliate decoration. The watch also has a button in the pendant to open the sprung front bezel. It is signed by Brockbanks London and dates back to circa 1790. The watch has a 47mm diameter and is truly a work of art. Signed Brockbanks London Circa 1790 Diameter 47 mm

Historical context

Precision & Scientific Horology (1750 – 1850)

Harrison solves longitude; Mudge invents the lever; Breguet's Paris workshop defines the modern watch.

From 1750 to 1850 the watch became a precision instrument. Mudge's lever escapement, the cylinder escapement, Lépine's thin bar calibre, Breguet's innovations (overcoil, tourbillon, perpétuelle) and the pocket chronometer of Arnold and Earnshaw all date from this period, while verge watches remained common in cheaper production.

Read the period in the timelineMore pocket watches from this periodEarlier: Early Modern Horology

Atlas type guide

Pocket watches

The pocket watch was the dominant personal timekeeper from the late seventeenth century until the First World War. Its development tracks the history of the escapement: verge watches with fusees until the late eighteenth century; Thomas Mudge's lever escapement (c. 1755) and the cylinder escapement popularised by George Graham and later by Swiss makers; and the Swiss and English lever watches of the nineteenth century. Lépine's bar-bridge calibre and keyless winding made watches thinner and easier to use.

Industrialisation transformed the trade: American factories such as Waltham (from 1850) and Elgin produced interchangeable parts by machine, and Swiss makers responded with their own mechanisation after the 1876 Philadelphia Exhibition. By 1900 a reliable watch was affordable to millions; the finest makers continued to produce complications and precision watches.

What to look for

  • The escapement: verge (crown wheel), cylinder, duplex, English or Swiss lever.
  • Key winding (a square arbor in dial or back) or keyless crown winding.
  • Signatures and serial numbers on the movement, dial and inside case back.
  • Hallmarks, case maker's marks and gold or silver standards stamped in the case.
  • Dial material: enamel, silver, gold, later printed metal.

Dating clues

  • Verge watches dominate before c. 1800; cylinder watches c. 1770–1900; lever watches after c. 1820.
  • Keyless winding: increasingly common after c. 1860.
  • Manufacturer serial number lists exist for Waltham, Elgin, Longines, Omega, Patek Philippe and others.

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:Verge escapementDetached lever escapementIdentification Centre

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