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Pocket Watches · Pocket watch

Triple cases Ottoman verge

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.
Maker / attribution
Benjamin Barber (maker)
Date
1792
Country of origin
Unrecorded in source
Object type
Pocket watch
Materials / technique
silver, tortoiseshell, shell
Dimensions
Diameter 65 mm
Stock no.
Product 6031
Credit line
Dealer listing, WatchMuseum.org shop (product 6031)
Catalogue title (original)
Triple cases Ottoman verge (English)

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Record summary

Catalogued by WatchMuseum.org shop (stock number Product 6031), this is a pocket watch by Benjamin Barber, dated 1792. The Atlas places it in the Precision & Scientific Horology period (1750 – 1850) of its Pocket Watches collection. Materials and techniques recorded by the source: silver, tortoiseshell, shell. Recorded dimensions: Diameter 65 mm. 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 into the elegance of the late 18th century with the Triple Cases Ottoman Verge – 1792, a masterfully crafted timepiece that epitomizes the sophistication and precision of its era. This exquisite watch features a triple case design, meticulously adorned with intricate engravings and embellishments that reflect the opulence of the Ottoman Empire. The verge escapement mechanism, a hallmark of horological craftsmanship from this period, ensures accurate timekeeping while showcasing the ingenuity of historical watchmaking techniques. With its rich history and unparalleled artistry, the Triple Cases Ottoman Verge – 1792 is not just a functional accessory but a timeless piece of art that captures the essence of a bygone era. This late 18th-century verge watch is a stunning piece made specifically for the Turkish market. It features silver and tortoiseshell cases that are in excellent condition, almost mint-like. The gilt verge movement is intricately engraved and boasts a pierced balance cock, along with four round pillars and a silver regulator disk with Turkish numerals. The watch is running well and is labeled as being made by Benjamin Barber of London, with the serial number 3137. The dial is a beautiful white enamel with Turkish numbers and early steel beetle and poker hands. It is in good condition, but does have a slight hairline scratch from the center to 3 o’clock and a few minor scratches. The inner case is made of silver and is hallmarked for London in 1792, with the maker’s mark IR. It is also in excellent condition, with a fine hinge and a bezel that closes, although there is a slight gap on one side. The high dome crystal is intact. The middle case is also silver and has matching hallmarks to the inner case. It is in very good condition, with a well-functioning hinge, catch, and closure. The only minor flaw is that the catch button is slightly flattened. The outer case is made of heavy silver-plated brass and is covered with a shell. It is in good condition, with some slight damage and restoration to the shell covering on the back. Additionally, there are only 8 silver pins missing from the pique work. Benjamin Barber was a watchmaker based in London from 1785 to 1794. This particular timepiece showcases his skill and craftsmanship, making it a wonderful example of a late 18th-century verge watch made for the Turkish market. Creator: Benjamin Barber Place of Origin: London Date of Manufacture: 1792 Shell & silver triple cases, 65mm 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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