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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Open-face quarter repeating pocket watch

Robert Robin openface quarter repeating watch with detent lever escapement

Partially verified

This large silver openface pocket watch features a movement signed Robin Aîné à Paris, numbered 41, dating to circa 1785/1786 and encased circa 1840. Measuring 62 mm in diameter, the circular engine-turned silver case houses a white enamel dial with Roman hour numerals, Arabic five-minute outer divisions, and subsidiary seconds at 6 o'clock. According to the source, the gilt-finished full plate movement features Robin's detent lever escapement, a going barrel secured by a floral and foliage engraved bridge, a plain three-arm balance, and a quarter repeating mechanism striking on two gongs.

Front view of the silver openface pocket watch showing the white enamel dial and subsidiary seconds
Front view of the silver openface pocket watch showing the white enamel dial and subsidiary seconds — Christie's. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
www.christies.com
Category
Pocket watch · Open-face quarter repeating pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Robin Aîné à Paris
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
372
Source-reported date
Movement circa 1785/1786, encased circa 1840
Country
France
Source-reported serial
41

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 Visible Presentation

The timepiece presents an open-face configuration with a white enamel dial featuring black Roman hour markers, outer Arabic five-minute numerals along an outer railway track, and a subsidiary seconds display positioned at 6 o'clock. The dial is fitted with open-tipped Breguet-style hands and carries the printed signature 'ROBIN' situated beneath the 12 o'clock marker.

The visible case shows a polished circular silver pendant topped with a round bow. While the frontal image shows the dial and bezel, the auction source states the full housing is a 62 mm circular silver construction. Reported features such as the case back and cuvette are not visible in the provided photograph.

Evidence for this section
  • “White enamel dial with black Roman numerals and an outer railway track with Arabic five-minute numerals”
  • “Breguet-style open-tipped hands and a subsidiary seconds subdial at the 6 o'clock position”
  • “Polished silver circular pendant with a round top bow”
  • “Signature 'ROBIN' printed beneath the 12 o'clock numeral”
  • “62 mm. diam.”

Movement Construction and Escapement

The movement is not visible in the photograph; however, the auction catalogue describes it as a gilt-finished full-plate caliber signed 'Robin Ainé à Paris' and numbered 41. It is documented as containing Robin's detent lever escapement, accompanied by a plain three-arm balance, a blued steel flat balance spring, and a regulation arm on the edge with an engraved scale on the backplate.

Energy is supplied by a going barrel passing through the back plate and secured by a floral and foliage engraved gilt brass bridge. The quarter repeating mechanism strikes via hammers onto two gongs, and the gilt brass balance cock is decorated with scroll and foliage engraving.

Evidence for this section
  • “Signed Robin Ainé à Paris, No. 41”
  • “Gilt-finished full plate movement, going barrel passing through the back plate and secured by a floral and foliage engraved gilt brass bridge, Robin detent lever escapement”
  • “scroll and foliage engraved gilt brass balance cock, plain three-arm balance, blued steel flat balance spring, regulation arm on the edge with engraved scale on the backplate”
  • “repeating on to hammers onto two gongs”

Casing, Hallmarks, and Production Context

The source dates the movement to circa 1785/1786 and states that it was encased circa 1840. The silver case is described as having large engine-turned decoration, enclosing an inner silver cuvette, and is stamped with a Paris control mark in use since 1838 alongside the casemaker's initials 'GO'.

The catalogue essay proposes that the watch was most likely made by Robert Robin during his lifetime and subsequently finished and sold by his son after 1838, linking the signature 'Robin Ainé à Paris' and the post-1838 French hallmarking context.

Evidence for this section
  • “movement circa 1785/1786, encased circa 1840”
  • “silver cuvette”
  • “large engine-turned circular case”
  • “case stamped with Paris control mark in use since 1838 and casemaker's initials GO”
  • “most likely made by Robert Robin during his lifetime and then finished and sold by his son after 1838.”

Open research questions

  • What specific silversmith or casemaker workshop corresponds to the initials 'GO' stamped alongside the 1838 Paris control mark?
  • Does movement number 41 appear in surviving ledgers or registers of Robert Robin or his successors?
  • Does physical examination confirm whether the repeating work and gongs were contemporary with the circa 1785/1786 movement frame or added during the circa 1840 encasing?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Robert Robin openface quarter repeating watch with detent lever escapement
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
Movement Number41“SIGNED ROBIN AINÉ À PARIS, NO. 41”
Diameter62 mm“62 mm. diam.”
EscapementRobin detent lever escapement“Robin detent lever escapement”
Casemaker MarkGO“casemaker's initials GO”
Repeating MechanismQuarter repeating onto two gongs“repeating on to hammers onto two gongs”
Case HallmarksParis control mark in use since 1838“case stamped with Paris control mark in use since 1838”
Inner CoverSilver cuvette“silver cuvette”
Balance SpringBlued steel flat balance spring“blued steel flat balance spring”

Visible details

  • White enamel dial with black Roman numerals and an outer railway track with Arabic five-minute numerals
  • Breguet-style open-tipped hands and a subsidiary seconds subdial at the 6 o'clock position
  • Polished silver circular pendant with a round top bow
  • Signature 'ROBIN' printed beneath the 12 o'clock numeral

Research qualifications

  • The movement and inner cuvette are not visible in the photograph
  • Case back and engine-turned decoration are not shown in the provided front-facing image

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

Consulted source

Robert Robin. A rare and large silver openface quarter repeating watch with Robin's detent lever escapement, SIGNED ROBIN AINÉ À PARIS, NO. 41, MOVEMENT CIRCA 1785/1786, ENCASED CIRCA 1840 | Christie's

Reviewed 2026-10-21 · Record b12e5709d6

Terms in this record

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

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