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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Minute repeating pocket watch

Le Phare Hunter Case Pocket Watch

Partially verified

This man's pocket watch is a gold hunter-cased timepiece featuring a repeating mechanism that strikes on two coils. The watch, signed 'Le Phare' (the lighthouse), was manufactured by the Swiss maker Barbezat-Baillot. The inner case displays an engraving of the brand name and the serial number 84022, alongside decorative symbols representing medals awarded to the maker at the 1883 Amsterdam and 1889 Paris exhibitions. The exterior of the hunter case features a central monogram. The watch is wound and set via the stem and button, and it incorporates a lever escapement. The dial, finished in white enamel, features Arabic numerals for minutes on the outer track, an inner ring of Roman numerals for hours, and a subsidiary seconds dial positioned at six o'clock. It is equipped with gold hands and a black sweep second hand used for the stopwatch function, controlled by a button near the two o'clock position.

Front view of the Le Phare pocket watch with the hunter case cover open, showing the enamel dial and subsidiary seconds.
Front view of the Le Phare pocket watch with the hunter case cover open, showing the enamel dial and subsidiary seconds. — Museums Victoria / Photographer: Taryn Ellis. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
orbiscollectibles.com
Category
Pocket watch · Minute repeating pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Barbezat-Baillot
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
ST 31044
Source-reported date
post-1889
Source-reported place
Switzerland
Source-reported serial
84022

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 Design

The watch is housed in a gold hunter case, characterized by a hinged front cover that protects the dial. The exterior surface of the hunter case bears a prominent monogram, which is finely engraved across the center. Access to the dial is gained by opening the front cover, which reveals a white enamel surface.

The dial is designed with a tiered numeric system, featuring an outer track displaying Arabic numerals for the minutes and an inner circle displaying Roman numerals to denote the hours. A small subsidiary seconds dial is located at the six o'clock position. Timekeeping and timing functions are managed through gold looped hands, complemented by a black sweep second hand intended for use with the integrated stopwatch function, which is actuated by a pusher located near the two o'clock position on the case band.

The watch utilizes a stem and button system for both winding and time setting, maintaining a streamlined aesthetic profile for a repeating timepiece. The dimensions of the watch measure 8.3 cm in length, 6 cm in width, and 1.5 cm in depth.

Evidence for this section
  • “Gold hunter case with monogram on front.”
  • “White enamel dial has arabic numerals for minutes, an inner circle of roman numerals for hours and a seconds dial at six.”
  • “Has looped gold hands and black sweep second hand for stopwatch with button near 2.”

Signatures and Commemorative Markings

The watch is identified by the inscription 'Le Phare', which translates to 'the lighthouse'. This name is explicitly present on the internal components of the watch. The maker, Barbezat-Baillot, utilized the inner case back as a space to record their professional achievements, specifically the recognition received at international exhibitions.

Alongside these commemorative marks, the inner case is stamped with the serial number 84022, which serves as a primary identifier for this specific specimen within the Museums Victoria collection.

Evidence for this section
  • “inscribed 'Le Phare' (the lighthouse).”
  • “Inner case is marked 'Le Phare' and 'no 84022'.”
  • “Inscriptions inside the pocket watch include symbols indicating medals won (by the maker) at the Amsterdam 1883 and Paris 1889 exhibitions.”

Mechanical Functionality

The internal movement of the watch is a lever escapement configuration, a mechanical system used for regulating the passage of time. The watch is equipped with a repeating complication, a functional addition that allows the time to be signaled audibly through a striking mechanism.

This repeating mechanism acts upon two separate coils within the case. The activation of these functions is supported by the crown-operated winding and setting mechanism, which facilitates daily maintenance of the watch's power reserve.

Evidence for this section
  • “Stem and button wound spring; lever escapement.”
  • “Has repeater striking on two coils.”
  • “Le Phare watches were made by Barbezat-Baillot in Switzerland.”

Open research questions

  • What is the specific karat of the gold used in the hunter case?
  • Are there any identifiable hallmarks on the case that further specify the date of hallmarking or the region of the Swiss case maker?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Le Phare Hunter Case Pocket Watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MakerBarbezat-Baillot“Le Phare watches were made by Barbezat-Baillot in Switzerland.”
Serial Number84022“Inner case is marked 'Le Phare' and 'no 84022'.”
MaterialGold“Man's pocket watch, gold hunter case”
EscapementLever“lever escapement”
InscriptionsExhibition medals“Inscriptions inside the pocket watch include symbols indicating medals won (by the maker) at the Amsterdam 1883 and Paris 1889 exhibitions.”

Visible details

  • Case features a large engraved monogram on the front cover.
  • Dial layout includes an outer minute track with Arabic numerals and an inner hour ring with Roman numerals.
  • Repeater mechanism controlled via a button on the case band.
  • Inner cuvette displays multiple exhibition medal engravings.

Research qualifications

  • The exact manufacturing date beyond the post-1889 reference is not stated.
  • The specific composition of the gold case is not defined in the provided source.

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

Consulted source

Pocket watch, Le Phare, Switzerland, 1889

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record 766d092acd

Terms in this record

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

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