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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Verge pocket watch

A Royal watch by Samuel Houston

Partially verified

According to the Science Museum Group, this silver consular pocket watch is associated with maker Samuel Houston and bears a London hallmark for 1807 with casemaker mark 'CC'. The source records an engraved Royal Crown on the case rear alongside an inscription stating the watch was worn by Princess Charlotte until age twelve and presented to Henry Kuper. The white enamel dial features upright Roman numerals, gold spade and pointed hands, and a winding aperture at IIII. Source documentation describes the full-plate movement as having a verge escapement, a five-armed steel balance, an engraved index scale, and a backplate signed 'Saml. Houston, London. 794'.

Front view of the silver pocket watch showing white enamel dial, hands, and winding aperture
Front view of the silver pocket watch showing white enamel dial, hands, and winding aperture — Science Museum Group/The Clockmakers' Museum. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk
Category
Pocket watch · Verge pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Samuel Houston
Reference
L2015-3667
Catalogue / lot identifier
Source URL identifies the listing
Source-reported date
1807
Country
United Kingdom
Source-reported serial
794

Source-reported attribution and specifications are not independent authentication. A listing does not establish present ownership, current display, availability or permission to reproduce.

Object description

Dial and Exterior Observations

The timepiece features a white enamel dial with upright Roman chapter-numerals and an outer minute track. A winding aperture is positioned near the IIII numeral. It utilizes gold spade and pointed hands.

The watch is housed in a silver consular case featuring a wide plain band, a top bow, and a spherical pendant. The rear of the case is engraved with a Royal Crown and an inscription: 'C.P. This watch was worn by H.R.H. the Princess Charlotte until she was twelve Yrs old & then presented by HRH to Henry Kuper.'

Evidence for this section
  • “White enamel dial with upright Roman chapter-numerals, winding through a IIII.”
  • “Gold spade and pointed hands”
  • “Silver consular case with wide plain band”
  • “On the rear of the case is engraved a Royal Crown and the inscription ‘C.P. This watch was worn by H.R.H. the Princess Charlotte until she was twelve Yrs old & then presented by HRH to Henry Kuper.’”

Movement Specifications

The watch contains a full-plate movement with a verge escapement and a 5-armed plain steel balance. It features an early wedge-shaped cock and a blued-steel index that indicates against a scale engraved on the plate.

The movement backplate is signed 'Saml. Houston, London. 794'.

Evidence for this section
  • “Full-plate movement with verge escapement, 5-armed plain steel balance”
  • “blued-steel index indicating against scale engraved on plate, early wedge-shaped cock”
  • “backplate signed 'Saml. Houston, London. 794'”

Provenance and Documentation

The source documentation includes a hallmark for 1807 and a casemaker's mark of 'CC'. The record also lists a Clockmakers' Museum number of 793.

The source provides conflicting location references, citing 'Dublin, c.1805' in the descriptive text while the museum record header and the movement backplate signature state 'London' and 1807.

Evidence for this section
  • “Silver watch by Samuel Houston, Dublin, c.1805.”
  • “hallmark for 1807 and casemaker's mark 'CC'.”
  • “Made: 1807 in London”
  • “Clockmakers' Museum No. 793”

Open research questions

  • What is the physical reconciliation between the Dublin, c.1805 attribution and the London 1807 hallmark?
  • Can the 'CC' casemaker mark be definitively linked to a specific silversmith active in 1807?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for A Royal watch by Samuel Houston
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
Casemaker MarkCC“casemaker's mark 'CC'”
Hallmark Date1807“hallmark for 1807”
Backplate InscriptionSaml. Houston, London. 794“backplate signed 'Saml. Houston, London. 794'”
Museum Object NumberL2015-3667“Object Number: L2015-3667”
Movement TypeFull-plate movement with verge escapement“Full-plate movement with verge escapement”
Museum Object NumberL2015-3667“Object Number: L2015-3667”
Materialssilver (alloy), steel (metal), brass (copper, zinc alloy), glass and enamel“Materials: silver (alloy) , steel (metal) , brass (copper, zinc alloy) , glass and enamel”

Visible details

  • White enamel dial with upright black Roman numerals and an outer minute track
  • Winding aperture visible through the dial near the IIII numeral
  • Silver consular case with top bow and spherical pendant
  • Gold spade hour hand and pointed minute hand mounted centrally

Research qualifications

  • Source notes conflicting locations: 'Dublin, c.1805' in description versus 'Made: 1807 in London' and 'London' on movement backplate
  • Rear case engraving and movement interior are not visible in this dial-view photograph

Photograph identity and source facts were screened before import; rights clearance remains pending.

Consulted source

A Royal watch by Samuel Houston | Science Museum Group Collection

Reviewed 2026-10-25 · Record 22fe4a1b63

Terms in this record

Glossary explanations for terms named in this object’s record.

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