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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Quarter repeating pocket watch

Swiss Quarter-Repeating Pocket Watch

Partially verified

This early 19th-century Swiss open-face pocket watch features a quarter-repeating mechanism. The repeater is activated by depressing the pendant, which strikes two polished steel gongs. The 18-karat gold case is decorated with floral engraving, engine-turned guilloche detailing, and a fluted rope-pattern band. The dial is made of white enamel with black Roman numerals and gold Breguet-style hands. Time setting and winding are performed via a key through a guilloche-decorated internal cuvette. The movement is a gold-gilt bar type featuring a suspended free barrel and a cylinder escapement. The escapement comprises a polished steel cylinder, a steel escape wheel, a three-arm gold balance, and a blued steel hairspring. A blued steel regulator is mounted on a plain cock. The watch relies on key-winding and does not have a crown-wound movement. It is currently documented as being in good external condition with no reported cracks to the enamel dial.

Front view of the gold open-face quarter-repeating pocket watch showing the white enamel dial and Breguet-style hands.
Front view of the gold open-face quarter-repeating pocket watch showing the white enamel dial and Breguet-style hands. — Zamanito. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
zamanito.com
Category
Pocket watch · Quarter repeating pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Not established
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
Source URL identifies the listing
Source-reported date
Early 19th century
Source-reported place
Switzerland

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 open-face case is constructed from 18-karat gold. It features ornate floral engravings and engine-turned guilloche patterns on the reverse. The middle band of the case is decorated with a fluted, rope-like design. The dial is composed of white enamel and displays black Roman numerals for the hours.

The hour and minute hands are finished in gold and are of the Breguet style. Access to the key-winding mechanism and time-setting arbor is provided by lifting an internal metal dust cover or cuvette, which is also decorated with guilloche engine-turning.

Evidence for this section
  • “قاب ساعت از نوع روباز (Open Face) بوده و تماماً با نقوش قلم‌زنی و گیوشه مزین شده است”
  • “صفحه ساعت از مینای سفید یکپارچه با ارقام رومی مشکی برای ساعت‌شماری و عقربه‌های طلایی سبک برگه (Breguet) ساخته شده”
  • “کوک ساعت و تنظیم زمان از طریق درپوش داخلی (Cuvette) گیوشه‌کاری‌شده و به وسیله کلید انجام می‌پذیرد”

Movement and Escapement

The movement is a gold-gilt bar-type construction equipped with a suspended free barrel. The escapement is a cylinder design that includes a polished steel cylinder, a steel escape wheel, and a three-arm gold balance wheel. A blued steel spiral hairspring is utilized for the balance.

The regulator is also made of blued steel and is mounted on a plain balance cock. The repeating mechanism is activated by pressing the pendant and strikes time on two steel gongs. Internal steel components for the repeater are visible beneath the dial side.

Evidence for this section
  • “موتور ساعت از نوع پل‌بندی نواری با آبکاری طلا (Gilt Bar Movement) بوده و به بارل آزاد معلق مجهز است”
  • “سیستم تنظیم‌کننده شامل مهار استوانه‌ای با سیلندر فولادی صیقلی”
  • “سیستم زنگ‌زن این ساعت با فشردن دسته کوک (Push Pendant) فعال شده و زمان را با ضربه روی دو زنگ سیمی (Gong) از جنس فولاد صیقلی اعلام می‌کند”

Condition and Attribution

The watch is attributed to the early 19th century in Switzerland. According to the seller, the exterior is in good condition, and the enamel dial is free of fractures. There is no information provided regarding recent servicing or the watch's current rate of accuracy.

Prospective owners are cautioned that the condition of the mainspring, the striking springs, and the steel cylinder escapement should be evaluated by a horologist prior to regular use, as these critical internal components have not been formally assessed for serviceability.

Evidence for this section
  • “ساعت جیبی عتیقه نمونه‌ای نفیس از ساعت‌سازی سویس در اوایل سده نوزدهم میلادی است”
  • “فروشنده به سلامت ظاهری و عدم شکستگی صفحه مینایی اشاره دارد”
  • “بررسی سلامت فنرها، عملکرد فنرهای ضربه‌زن و سلامت استوانه مهار فولادی پیش از استفاده مستمر برای مجموعه‌داران توصیه می‌شود”

Open research questions

  • What are the specific hallmarks, if any, located on the internal dust cover or case interior?
  • Is there an identifiable movement number or maker's signature located on the movement plates?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Swiss Quarter-Repeating Pocket Watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
Maker locationSwitzerland“ساعت‌سازی سویس”
Case material18k gold“قاب ساعت طبق منبع از طلای ۱۸ عیار ساخته شده است”
Escapement typeCylinder“مهار استوانه‌ای با سیلندر فولادی صیقلی”
Striking mechanismQuarter repeating“سازوکار پیچیده زنگ‌زن ربعی (Quarter Repeating)”
Winding mechanismKey-wind“کوک ساعت و تنظیم زمان از طریق درپوش داخلی (Cuvette) گیوشه‌کاری‌شده و به وسیله کلید انجام می‌پذیرد”
Dial materialWhite enamel“صفحه ساعت از مینای سفید یکپارچه”
HandsGold Breguet-style“عقربه‌های طلایی سبک برگه (Breguet)”

Visible details

  • Case features extensive floral and guilloche decoration
  • Gold Breguet-style hands present on the dial
  • Key-wind access provided through the internal cuvette
  • Movement utilizes a cylinder escapement

Research qualifications

  • Service history and current timekeeping accuracy are unverified
  • Internal mechanical functionality of the striking system and springs requires expert inspection

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

Consulted source

Gold Quarter Repeating Swiss Cylinder

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record 97fb694e76

Terms in this record

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

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