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Pocket Watches · Pocket watch

Gold Paris verge, 1770

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.
Maker / attribution
Unrecorded in source
Date
1770
Country of origin
France
Object type
Pocket watch
Materials / technique
gold
Stock no.
Product 5853
Credit line
Dealer listing, WatchMuseum.org shop (product 5853)
Catalogue title (original)
gold Paris verge (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 5853), this is a pocket watch, made in France, dated 1770. 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. 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

The “Gold Paris Verge – 1770” is an exquisite example of 18th-century horological craftsmanship, embodying the elegance and precision of its time. This remarkable timepiece is housed in a breathtaking repousse gold case, showcasing intricate artistry that captures the essence of Parisian luxury. The watch’s heart, a gilt verge movement, is a testament to meticulous engineering, featuring a beautifully engraved and pierced design with a silvered regulator disk supported by four round pillars. Signed by the esteemed watchmaker J. B. Farine, who operated in Paris from 1767 to 1773, this piece bears the historical significance of its creator’s legacy, with the serial number 524 marking its authenticity. The movement is in commendable condition, with only minor scratches around the pillar tops, and it functions with precision. Complementing the movement is a white enamel dial, which, despite a small chip at 12 o’clock and slight discoloration between 2 and 4 o’clock, remains in very good condition, adorned with elegant gold hands that enhance its refined appearance. The gold case is the highlight of this timepiece, adorned with exceptional repousse decoration on both the bezel and back, preserving its crisp detail over the centuries. The French gold marks and a possible maker’s mark, IBP, are clearly visible, attesting to the authenticity and quality of the gold, which remains in excellent condition. The watch’s structural integrity is maintained with complete hinges and a secure bezel that snaps shut, although the catch button shows some wear, a testament to its historical journey. Protected by a high dome crystal, this 38 mm gold-cased watch with a verge escapement is not only a functional timepiece but also a piece of art and history, encapsulating the legacy of Jean-Baptiste Farine, who passed away in 1777, leaving behind a legacy of horological excellence. Originating from Paris around 1770, this watch is a rare and valuable collector’s item, embodying the sophistication and craftsmanship of its era. This beautiful Paris verge watch features a stunning repousse gold case. The gilt verge movement is meticulously engraved and pierced, with a silvered regulator disk and four round pillars. It is signed by J. B. Farine, A Paris, and bears the serial number 524. The movement is in good condition, with only a few scratches around the pillar tops, and it runs well. The white enamel dial is also in very good condition, with only a small chip on the edge at 12 o’clock and some slight discoloration between 2 and 4 o’clock. The dial is adorned with elegant gold hands. The highlight of this timepiece is the exceptional gold case, adorned with intricate repousse decoration on the bezel and back. The French gold marks and maker’s mark (possibly IBP) are clearly visible. The gold is in excellent condition, with the repousse work remaining crisp. The hinges and catch are complete, and the bezel snaps shut securely. The catch button shows some signs of wear. The watch is protected by a high dome crystal. Jean-Baptiste Farine, a renowned clock and watch maker, operated in Paris from 1767 until 1773. He passed away in 1777. Creator: Jean Baptiste Farine Place of Origin: Paris Date of Manufacture: c1770 Gold case, 38 mm. Verge escapement Condition: Good

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

Verge and pair-cased watches

After Christiaan Huygens and Robert Hooke applied the balance spring around 1675, the verge watch became a reasonably reliable timekeeper and the minute hand became standard. Through the eighteenth century the typical English watch was a pair-cased verge: a fusee movement with a pierced, engraved balance cock, housed in an inner case and a separate protective outer case, often of repoussé gold, shagreen, tortoiseshell or enamel.

French watches of the same period were thicker 'oignons', later replaced by elegant thinner watches following Jean-Antoine Lépine's bar-bridge calibre of c. 1770. Dutch, Swiss and German makers supplied international markets, and verge watches were made until the mid-nineteenth century as cheaper alternatives to the cylinder and lever.

What to look for

  • The pierced balance cock on the backplate: winged (continental) or with a foot (English); its style dates the watch.
  • Fusee and chain visible through the movement; key winding through the dial (early) or case back.
  • Hallmarks inside English silver or gold cases, which give a date letter.
  • Maker's name and serial number engraved on the backplate; watch papers inside outer cases.
  • Enamel dials (after c. 1720) versus earlier champlevé metal dials.

Dating clues

  • Champlevé dials: c. 1680–1730; white enamel dials thereafter.
  • English case hallmarks give the year of assay to within a year.
  • Verge watches persisted in cheap production until c. 1850.

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:FuseeBalance spring (hairspring)Verge escapement

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