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Small Swiss Quarter Repeating Cylinder Pocket Watch, 1830 — view 1 of 4
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Pocket Watches · Pocket watch

Small Swiss Quarter Repeating Cylinder Pocket Watch, 1830

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.
Maker / attribution
Unrecorded in source
Date
1830
Country of origin
Switzerland
Object type
Pocket watch
Stock no.
Product 1424
Credit line
Dealer listing, WatchMuseum.org shop (product 1424)
Catalogue title (original)
Small Swiss Quarter Repeating Cylinder 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 1424), this is a pocket watch, made in Switzerland, dated 1830. The Atlas places it in the Precision & Scientific Horology period (1750 – 1850) of its Pocket Watches collection. The record is illustrated with 4 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 SMALL SWISS QUARTER REPEATING CYLINDER POCKET WATCH from 1830, a true marvel of 19th-century horology. This remarkable timepiece is encased in an elegant 18-carat gold open face case, showcasing the meticulous craftsmanship of its era. Inside, the watch features a small keywind gilt bar movement with a suspended going barrel, plain cock with a blue steel regulator, and a plain three-arm gilt balance with a blue steel spiral hairspring. The polished steel cylinder and escape wheel add to its mechanical charm. One of its standout features is the push pendant quarter repeating function, which chimes on two polished steel gongs, offering a delightful auditory experience. The silver engine-turned dial, adorned with Roman numerals and gold Breguet hands, exudes sophistication and timeless elegance. The watch remains in excellent condition, with its intricate engine turning still crisp and the 18-carat gold case deeply chased and engraved. A small monogram graces the engine-turned back, adding a personal touch. The watch is signed by J F Bautte et Cie a Geneve and can be wound and set using the gold push pendant and signed gold cuvette. Measuring 36mm in diameter, this pocket watch is not just a timekeeper but a piece of history, perfect for any discerning collector. This is a stunning 19th Century Swiss quarter repeating cylinder watch, housed in a beautiful 18 carat gold open face case. The small keywind gilt bar movement features a suspended going barrel, plain cock with a blue steel regulator, plain three arm gilt balance with blue steel spiral hairspring, and a polished steel cylinder with steel escape wheel. The watch also boasts a push pendant quarter repeating function on two rectangular section polished steel gongs. The silver engine turned dial has elegant Roman numerals and is complemented by gold Breguet hands, creating a refined look. The watch is in excellent condition overall, with the engine turning still crisp. The 18 carat gold case is deeply chased and engraved, with an engine turned back and a small monogram in the centre. The watch can be wound and set using the gold push pendant and the signed gold cuvette. The watch is signed by J F Bautte et Cie a Geneve and dates back to around 1830. With a diameter of 36mm, this watch is a well-made and attractive timepiece that would make a great addition to any collection. Signed J F Bautte et Cie a Geneve Circa 1830 Diameter 36 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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