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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Marine chronometer · 8-day marine chronometer

Victor Kullberg 8-day marine chronometer

Partially verified

This marine chronometer, dated by the auction house to circa 1890, features an eight-day spring detent movement with a helical hairspring and diamond endstone attributed to Victor Kullberg. Housed in a wooden box measuring approximately 21 by 21 by 21 cm, the instrument is mounted in a brass gimbal suspension. The silvered dial carries the retailer signature Hunt & Roskell London alongside an eight-day state-of-wind indicator and running seconds subdial. The auction description notes an original bone plaque inscribed 'V. Kullberg 6643 London', with matching serial numbers reported across the case and movement.

Top-down view of Victor Kullberg marine chronometer mounted in brass gimbals inside its open wooden transport box
Top-down view of Victor Kullberg marine chronometer mounted in brass gimbals inside its open wooden transport box — Cortrie Spezial Auktionen. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
www.invaluable.com
Category
Marine chronometer · 8-day marine chronometer
Maker / attribution
Victor Kullberg
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
4246
Source-reported date
circa 1890
Country
United Kingdom
Source-reported serial
6643

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 Mounting

The instrument is housed in a wooden box described by the auction house as measuring approximately 21 by 21 by 21 cm, fitted with gimbal suspension. Directly observable in the case lid is an inset rectangular bone or ivory-colored plaque, catalogued by the source as an 'original bone plate V. Kullberg 6643 London'.

Visible in the upper right interior corner of the case is a brass winding key. The catalog notes matching numbers across the case and movement, though external numbering stamps cannot be verified from the single provided top-down photograph.

Evidence for this section
  • “Original box ca. 21 x 21 x 21 cm”
  • “original bone plate V. Kullberg 6643 London”
  • “gimbal suspension”
  • “matching numbers with case and movement”

Dial Configuration and Retailer Signature

The silvered dial displays Roman numerals, blued steel spade hands, an up/down state-of-wind indication below XII for an 8-day reserve, and a subsidiary seconds dial above VI. The auction catalog explicitly describes the hands as 'steel hands' and notes an '8-day power reserve'.

The dial face does not bear Victor Kullberg's signature; instead, it is inscribed with the retailer's mark, identified by the auction house as 'dealer’s signature Hunt & Roskell London'.

Evidence for this section
  • “silvered dial with dealer’s signature Hunt & Roskell London”
  • “8-day power reserve”
  • “steel hands”

Reported Movement Specifications

The movement is enclosed inside the brass chronometer bowl and is not exposed in the visual documentation. Technical architecture is therefore recorded solely on the basis of the seller's catalog entry.

The auction house reports an 'extremely rare 8-day spring detent chronometer movement with helical hairspring and diamond endstone', dating the chronometer to circa 1890. Direct verification of the spring detent, helical spring, diamond endstone, and movement serial markings is not recorded in this source.

Evidence for this section
  • “extremely rare 8-day spring detent chronometer movement with helical hairspring and diamond endstone”
  • “circa 1890”

Open research questions

  • What specific serial number or inscriptions are engraved on the movement plates beneath the dial?
  • Where precisely are the reported matching serial numbers stamped on the exterior wood box and brass bowl?
  • Does the movement utilize Kullberg's auxiliary temperature compensation balance or an ordinary split bimetallic balance?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Victor Kullberg 8-day marine chronometer
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
Box dimensionsca. 21 x 21 x 21 cm“Original box ca. 21 x 21 x 21 cm”
Bone plate inscriptionV. Kullberg 6643 London“original bone plate V. Kullberg 6643 London”
Movement type8-day spring detent chronometer movement with helical hairspring and diamond endstone“extremely rare 8-day spring detent chronometer movement with helical hairspring and diamond endstone”
Dial signatureHunt & Roskell London“silvered dial with dealer’s signature Hunt & Roskell London”
SuspensionGimbal suspension“gimbal suspension”
Hands materialSteel“steel hands”
Stated power reserve duration8-day“8-day power reserve”

Visible details

  • Chronometer bowl is mounted on brass gimbal rings inside a wooden case with an open lid.
  • Silvered dial displays Roman numerals, blued steel spade hands, an up/down state-of-wind subdial at 12 o'clock, and a subsidiary seconds dial at 6 o'clock.
  • A rectangular bone or ivory-colored plaque is mounted inside the hinged lid with black lettering, and a brass winding key is fitted in the upper right corner of the case.

Research qualifications

  • Movement is not visible in the provided image; movement construction details are source-reported.
  • The dial features the retailer's signature rather than the maker's signature directly on the dial face.

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

Consulted source

Sold at Auction: Marine chronometer: significant, very large Victor Kullberg 8-day chronometer, circa 1890

Reviewed 2026-10-21 · Record 85e5bde06d

Terms in this record

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