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Gold Swiss Quarter Repeating Ruby Cylinder, c. 1820 — view 1 of 5
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Pocket Watches · Pocket watch

Gold Swiss Quarter Repeating Ruby Cylinder, c. 1820

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.
Maker / attribution
Unrecorded in source
Date
c. 1820
Country of origin
Switzerland
Object type
Pocket watch
Materials / technique
gold
Stock no.
Product 4672
Credit line
Dealer listing, WatchMuseum.org shop (product 4672)
Catalogue title (original)
Gold Swiss Quarter Repeating Ruby Cylinder (English)

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Record summary

Catalogued by WatchMuseum.org shop (stock number Product 4672), this is a pocket watch, made in Switzerland, dated c. 1820. 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 5 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

Step back in time with the exquisite “Gold Swiss Quarter Repeating Ruby Cylinder – Circa 1820,” a testament to the pinnacle of early 19th Century Swiss horology. This remarkable pocket watch encapsulates the elegance and precision of a bygone era, featuring a ruby cylinder movement housed within a resplendent 18 carat gold open face case. Meticulously crafted, the keywind movement boasts a suspended going barrel and polished steel stopwork, complemented by a plain cock and a polished steel regulator equipped with a temperature compensation curb. The plain three-arm gilt balance and blue steel spiral hairspring further exemplify the intricate engineering of this timepiece. One of its most captivating features is the quarter repeating function, which, when activated by pushing the pendant, triggers two polished steel gongs to chime melodiously. The white enamel dial, adorned with Arabic numerals and a sunk subsidiary seconds dial, is accentuated by blue steel hands, adding a touch of vibrant elegance. The engine-turned 18 carat gold case, with its easily accessible back opened by a button on the band, showcases the watch’s inner workings and is signed with a gold cuvette. This horological masterpiece, signed by J’ Cusin and measuring 54 mm in diameter, stands as a true collector’s gem, embodying the fine craftsmanship and timeless beauty of the 19th Century. This is a beautiful early 19th Century Swiss quarter repeating pocket watch. The watch features a ruby cylinder movement, enclosed in a stunning 18 carat gold open face case. The movement is keywind and includes a suspended going barrel and polished steel stopwork. The watch also has a plain cock and a polished steel regulator with a temperature compensation curb. The balance is a plain three arm gilt balance with a blue steel spiral hairspring. The watch also includes a ruby cylinder and a steel escape wheel. One of the standout features of this watch is the quarter repeating function, which is activated by pushing the pendant. This function causes two rectangular section polished steel gongs to strike, producing a beautiful chime. The white enamel dial of the watch features Arabic numerals and a sunk subsidiary seconds dial. The hands are made of blue steel, adding a pop of color to the design. The case of the watch is made from engine-turned 18 carat gold and has a middle that is also engine turned. The back of the case can be opened by pressing a button on the band, allowing for easy access to wind and set the watch. The inside of the case is signed and features a gold cuvette. Overall, this watch is a true example of fine craftsmanship from the 19th Century. The combination of the ruby cylinder movement, the quarter repeating function, and the beautiful gold case make it a valuable and sought-after piece for collectors and enthusiasts. Signed J’ Cusin Circa 1820 Diameter 54 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

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 repeaterMinute repeater

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