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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Pocket chronometer

English Silver Pocket Chronometer

Partially verified

This English pocket chronometer, dating to the mid-19th century, is housed in a silver open-face case. The watch features a white enamel dial with Roman numerals and a subsidiary seconds dial, equipped with gold hour and minute hands and a blued steel seconds hand. The movement is a key-wound, full-plate gilt mechanism featuring a fusee and chain, Harrison’s maintaining power, and a six-spoke gear train, all supported by four pillars. The escapement is an Earnshaw spring detent type with endstones. The bimetallic compensation balance includes two weights and four adjustment screws, paired with a blued steel helical hairspring in a freesprung configuration. Additional technical features include blued steel screws and a diamond endstone set in a blue steel mount. The movement is signed "John Archer London No 2106" and "Late Dent Chronometer Maker to the Queen".

Dial of the English silver pocket chronometer signed by John Archer
Dial of the English silver pocket chronometer signed by John Archer — Pieces of Time. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
zamanito.com
Category
Pocket watch · Pocket chronometer
Maker / attribution
TH
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
Source URL identifies the listing
Source-reported date
mid-19th century
Source-reported place
England
Source-reported serial
2106

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

Case and Dial

The watch is enclosed in a silver open-face case. The design is described as robust and simple in its construction. The dial is made of white enamel, which provides a high-contrast background for the time display.

Roman numerals are used for the hour markers, complemented by a subsidiary seconds dial. Time is indicated by gold hands for the hours and minutes, while the seconds are tracked by a blued steel hand.

Evidence for this section
  • “این اثر در یک قاب روباز (open face) مستحکم و ساده از جنس نقره جای گرفته”
  • “صفحه ساعت از جنس مینای سفید بوده و به ارقام رومی و صفحه فرعی ثانیه‌شمار مجهز است”
  • “عقربه‌های اصلی از جنس طلا و یک عقربه ثانیه‌شمار از جنس فولاد آبی‌رنگ”

Movement and Escapement

The movement is a gold-gilt, full-plate construction utilizing a traditional fusee and chain mechanism for constant force. The structure is built upon four pillars, with the gear train featuring six-spoke wheels. The mechanism incorporates Harrison’s maintaining power to ensure continuous operation during winding.

Precision is achieved through an Earnshaw spring detent escapement fitted with endstones. The bimetallic compensation balance is equipped with two weights and four adjustment screws, working in conjunction with a blued steel helical hairspring. The assembly is described as a freesprung configuration.

Evidence for this section
  • “موتور این ساعت یک سازوکار تمام‌صفحه طلاکاری‌شده با کوک کلیدی و مکانیزم زنجیر و فیوزی (fusee) است”
  • “مکانیزم مهار دتانت فنری Earnshaw با سنگ‌های ته‌محور (endstones) در محورهای فرار بهره می‌برد”
  • “فنر رقاصک مارپیچی استوانه‌ای (helical) فولادی آبی با طراحی آزاد (freesprung)”

Signatures and History

The movement is signed with the maker's name, 'John Archer', alongside the serial number '2106'. The signature also identifies the maker as the successor to 'Dent', a prominent chronometer maker to the Queen.

The case includes a maker's mark 'TH'. The combination of these markings and the technical specifications suggests a mid-19th-century English provenance for this instrument.

Evidence for this section
  • “نشان سازنده با حروف لاتین «TH» روی آن درج شده است”

Open research questions

  • What is the specific connection between the 'TH' case mark and the workshop of John Archer?
  • Can the movement serial number 2106 be cross-referenced with Archer's production logs to confirm a more precise date of manufacture?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for English Silver Pocket Chronometer
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
EscapementEarnshaw spring detent“مکانیزم مهار دتانت فنری Earnshaw”
Movement typeFull-plate gilt fusee“موتور این ساعت یک سازوکار تمام‌صفحه طلاکاری‌شده با کوک کلیدی و مکانیزم زنجیر و فیوزی (fusee) است”
Balance springHelical blued steel“فنر رقاصک مارپیچی استوانه‌ای (helical) فولادی آبی”
Maintaining powerHarrison's“سیستم حفظ نیروی هریسون (Harrison’s maintaining power)”
Case materialSilver“قاب روباز (open face) مستحکم و ساده از جنس نقره”

Visible details

  • White enamel dial with Roman numerals
  • Blued steel seconds hand
  • Full-plate gilt movement with fusee
  • Bimetallic compensation balance with weights

Research qualifications

  • The source attributes the watch to the mid-19th century, which is an estimate.
  • The exact role of the 'TH' maker's mark on the case relative to the movement signature is not specified beyond the source's inclusion of both.

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

Consulted source

Silver English Pocket Chronometer

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record cb9f6b62c7

Terms in this record

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

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