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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Open-face pocket watch

James McCabe 1834 Gold Lepine Calibre Duplex Pocket Watch

Partially verified

This nineteenth-century open face pocket watch features a keywind gilt Lepine calibre bar movement with a duplex escapement, crafted by James McCabe of Royal Exchange, London, and hallmarked for London in 1834. The movement incorporates a signed and numbered suspended going barrel, polished steel Geneva stopwork, a plain balance cock with a diamond endstone, and a three-arm gold balance with a blue steel spiral hairspring. According to the source, the 18-carat gold case was made by Charles August Petterman, featuring a ribbed middle, an engraved silver dial, and a dedicated inner cuvette.

View of the gilt Lepine calibre bar movement, signed barrel, and ribbed case edge
View of the gilt Lepine calibre bar movement, signed barrel, and ribbed case edge — antique-watch.com. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
antique-watch.com
Category
Pocket watch · Open-face pocket watch
Maker / attribution
James McCabe
Reference
A10968
Catalogue / lot identifier
Source URL identifies the listing
Source-reported date
1834
Country
United Kingdom
Source-reported serial
14328

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

Identity and Calibre Layout

This open-face pocket watch features a keywind gilt Lepine calibre bar movement attributed to James McCabe. The visible bridge layout uses individual bars and bridges secured by blued steel screws around a suspended going barrel. In visual inspection, the barrel is engraved 'Ja.s M.cCABE Royal Exchange London' and numbered '14328'.

The source notes that McCabe produced a series of these Lepine calibre watches despite the design being generally unpopular among English makers. Dealer documentation lists the piece under reference number A10968 with London hallmarks dating to 1834.

Evidence for this section
  • “Keywind gilt Lepine calibre bar movement.”
  • “Signed and numbered suspended going barrel, polished steel Geneva stopwork partly under a gilt cover.”
  • “McCabe produced a series of these Lepine calibre watch even though the design was never popular with English makers.”
  • “Reference Number A10968”
  • “Hallmarked London 1834”

Escapement and Movement Details

The movement is equipped with a duplex escapement with endstones fitted to the escape wheel pivots. The regulating assembly consists of a plain cock with a polished steel regulator, a diamond endstone, and a plain three-arm gold balance with a blue steel spiral hairspring.

Mainspring control includes visible polished steel Geneva stopwork mounted next to the barrel arbor, partly under a gilt cover. Winding is carried out through the gold cuvette, which the source describes as signed, numbered, and engraved with an interior dedication.

Evidence for this section
  • “Plain cock with polished steel regulator, diamond endstone. Plain three arm gold balance with blue steel spiral hairspring.”
  • “Duplex escapement, escape wheel pivots with endstones.”
  • “Wound through the signed and numbered gold cuvette which is engraved with a dedication inside.”

Case and Dial Documentation

The source describes an 18-carat gold open-face case measuring 40 mm in diameter and 6 mm in depth, with a ribbed middle band, an engine-turned back, and engraved initials within a circular cartouche. The cuvette is recorded as bearing a number corresponding to the movement, the maker's mark 'CAP' (associated in source text with Charles August Petterman, 12 Upper King Street), and an additional mark 'IMC'.

The front is reported by the seller to feature a silver dial with a decoratively engraved centre, Roman numerals, subsidiary seconds, and blue steel hands. However, the available photograph depicts only the movement side and ribbed case middle; the dial, cuvette inscription, and exterior case back are not visible in the provided image.

Evidence for this section
  • “Dimensions Diameter 40 mm Depth 6 mm”
  • “Engine turned 18 carat open face case, engraved initials to the circular cartouche on the back, ribbed middle.”
  • “Number corresponding to that on the movement, maker's mark "CAP", additionally "IMC".”
  • “Casemaker Charles August Petterman, 12 Upper King Street.”
  • “Silver dial with decoratively engraved centre, subsidiary seconds, Roman numerals, blue steel hands.”

Open research questions

  • What specific text and date are inscribed inside the inner gold cuvette dedication?
  • What individual or workshop corresponds to the additional 'IMC' case stamping recorded alongside 'CAP'?
  • What decorative pattern is used for the silver dial centre reported in the source text?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for James McCabe 1834 Gold Lepine Calibre Duplex Pocket Watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
Hallmark Date and LocationLondon 1834“Hallmarked London 1834”
Movement DesignKeywind gilt Lepine calibre bar movement“Keywind gilt Lepine calibre bar movement.”
CasemakerCharles August Petterman, 12 Upper King Street“Casemaker Charles August Petterman, 12 Upper King Street.”
DimensionsDiameter 40 mm Depth 6 mm“Dimensions Diameter 40 mm Depth 6 mm”
Reference NumberA10968“Reference Number A10968”
Escapement TypeDuplex escapement with endstones on escape wheel pivots“Duplex escapement, escape wheel pivots with endstones.”
Balance DetailsPlain three-arm gold balance with blue steel spiral hairspring and diamond endstone“Plain cock with polished steel regulator, diamond endstone. Plain three arm gold balance with blue steel spiral hairspring.”
Reported Case MarksMaker's mark 'CAP' and additionally 'IMC'“maker's mark "CAP", additionally "IMC".”

Visible details

  • Gilt Lepine calibre movement layout with individual bridges and bars secured by blued steel screws.
  • Suspended barrel is engraved 'Ja.s M.cCABE Royal Exchange London' and serial number '14328'.
  • Visible steel Geneva stopwork mechanism mounted beside the barrel arbor.
  • Plain balance cock fitted with a steel regulator index pointing to a scale engraved 'Slow' and 'Fast', with an endstone setting.
  • Ribbed coin-edge pattern around the case middle band.

Research qualifications

  • The silver dial, cuvette dedication, and engine-turned case back noted in the source description are not visible in the provided photograph.
  • The serial number 14328 is visible on the barrel plate in the photograph, though listed without a label under the source's technical specifications section.

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

Consulted source

Gold Lepine Calibre Duplex by McCabe - 1834

Reviewed 2026-10-21 · Record 984fbbb0fc

Terms in this record

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

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