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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Quarter-repeating chronometer

Ganthony Quarter Repeating Chronometer

Partially verified

This pocket watch is a large quarter-repeating chronometer constructed by Ganthony, dating to the early nineteenth century and housed in a custom-fitted silver open-face case. The watch utilizes a full-plate, gilded movement featuring a key-wound fusee mechanism integrated with Harrison’s maintaining power. The spring barrel is positioned beneath a bridge with a ratchet wheel and a blued steel set-up spring. The movement incorporates an Earnshaw-type spring detent escapement with jeweled locking and unlocking pallets, endstones, and screwed-in jewels. The balance assembly includes a three-arm gold balance with a deep rim, a blued steel spiral balance spring, a plain cock with a diamond endstone set in a polished steel seat, and a polished steel temperature-compensating bimetallic curb regulator. The quarter-repeating mechanism is activated by pushing the pendant, striking two blued steel gongs. The watch features a white enamel dial with Roman numerals and a secondary seconds dial.

Front view of the Ganthony quarter-repeating chronometer, showing the white enamel dial with Roman numerals, subsidiary seconds dial, and gold hands.
Front view of the Ganthony quarter-repeating chronometer, showing the white enamel dial with Roman numerals, subsidiary seconds dial, and gold hands. — Pieces of Time. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
zamanito.com
Category
Pocket watch · Quarter-repeating chronometer
Maker / attribution
Ganthony
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
Source URL identifies the listing
Source-reported date
early nineteenth century (case hallmarked 1873)
Source-reported place
England

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

Movement and Escapement

The watch is powered by a full-plate, gilded movement of key-wound fusee construction, which incorporates Harrison’s maintaining power to ensure continuous operation during winding. The spring barrel is secured beneath a bridge, complemented by a ratchet wheel and a blued steel set-up spring.

Precision timekeeping is achieved through an Earnshaw-type spring detent escapement. Key components are jeweled, featuring screwed-in settings for the locking and unlocking pallets as well as the balance staff endstones. The balance system is designed for thermal stability, featuring a three-arm gold balance with a deep rim, a blued steel spiral balance spring, and a polished steel bimetallic curb regulator. A diamond endstone is set into a polished steel seat on the balance cock.

Evidence for this section
  • “موتور ساعت از نوع صفحه‌کامل با روکش طلاکاری و دارای مکانیزم فیوزی (fusee) با کوک کلیدی است که به سیستم توان ممتد هریسون (Harrison’s maintaining power) مجهز شده است”
  • “این موتور همچنین از محرک دتانت فنری طرح ارنشاو (Earnshaw type spring detent escapement) با سنگ‌کاری در بخش‌های قفل و رهایش، پاشنه‌های چرخ‌دنگ دارای سنگ‌های انتهایی و جواهرکاری پیچ‌شده بهره می‌برد”

Case and Dial

The watch is encased in a simple, robust open-face silver case. The case features a London hallmark dating to 1873. The silver construction includes a matching silver cuvette for winding, a silver push pendant, and a silver ring. Inside the case, the maker's mark 'JW & Co' is stamped within a rectangular frame.

The dial is crafted from white enamel, featuring traditional Roman numerals for the hours. A secondary subsidiary dial is provided for the seconds. Time is indicated using gold hour and minute hands, contrasted by a blued steel seconds hand, which offers a distinct visual aesthetic against the white dial surface.

Evidence for this section
  • “قاب ساعت از نقره ساده و مستحکم ساخته شده که دارای نشان رسمی (hallmark) لندن برای سال ۱۸۷۳ است”
  • “صفحه ساعت از جنس لعاب سفید با اعداد رومی و صفحه فرعی ثانیه‌شمار طراحی شده و خوانش زمان از طریق عقربه‌های طلایی و عقربه ثانیه‌شمار فولادی آبی صورت می‌پذیرد”

Repeating Mechanism and History

The watch incorporates a quarter-repeating complication, which provides an audible signal of the time when activated. The mechanism is operated via a push-pendant, allowing the user to strike the time on two separate gongs fashioned from blued steel.

The discrepancy between the early nineteenth-century movement and the 1873 case hallmark suggests the potential for secondary re-casing or modernization.

Evidence for this section
  • “سیستم تکرارکننده ربع ساعت نیز به صورت فشاری از طریق آویز (push pendant) عمل کرده و روی دو گنگ از جنس فولاد آبی ضربه می‌زند”
  • “این رده از ساعت‌های بریتانیایی اغلب به سفارش مشتریان خاص ساخته می‌شدند و گاه در دوره‌های بعدی توسط سازندگان معتبر قاب‌سازی با قاب‌های جدید و مجلل نوسازی یا بازقاب‌گذاری می‌شدند”

Open research questions

  • What is the historical relationship between Ganthony and the case manufacturer JW & Co?
  • Was this specific movement re-cased in 1873 or was it an original pairing of the movement and case?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Ganthony Quarter Repeating Chronometer
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MakerGanthony“توسط Ganthony ساخته شده”
EscapementEarnshaw type spring detent“محرک دتانت فنری طرح ارنشاو (Earnshaw type spring detent escapement)”
ComplicationQuarter repeater“تکرارکننده ربع ساعت”
Maintaining PowerHarrison’s“سیستم توان ممتد هریسون (Harrison’s maintaining power)”
Case HallmarksLondon, 1873“نشان رسمی (hallmark) لندن برای سال ۱۸۷۳ است”
DialWhite enamel“صفحه ساعت از جنس لعاب سفید”
Movement TypeFull-plate, gilt“موتور ساعت از نوع صفحه‌کامل با روکش طلاکاری”

Visible details

  • Full-plate gilded movement
  • Earnshaw-type spring detent escapement
  • Key-wound fusee mechanism
  • Quarter-repeating mechanism striking two gongs

Research qualifications

  • Movement dating to early nineteenth century differs from the 1873 silver hallmark on the case
  • Possibility of subsequent re-casing or upgrade by a maker

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

Consulted source

Quarter Repeating Chronometer by Ganthony

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record dfd6f40b9e

Terms in this record

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