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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Paris

Compteur militaire

Verified

Military counter. Punch marks: goldsmith’s mark Dupré, letter B and N° 3841 on inside of case-back. Dome signed: Breguet et fils HORGERS DE LA MARINE ROYALE N° 384. Dial signed: BREGUET ET FILS. Circa 1822

Technical facts

Inventory number
MIH I-125
Object type
Pocket watch
Place of production
Paris
Dating
1822
Materials and techniques (catalogue wording)
Argent, Or, Laiton
Dimensions (catalogue)
dimensions min/max: 61 x 70 mm
Inscriptions (catalogue)
Poinçon d'orfèvre Dupré (Fond du boîtier); N° 3841 (Fond du boîtier); B (Fond du boîtier); Breguet et fils HORGERS DE LA MARINE ROYALE N° 3841 (Cuvette); BREGUET ET FILS (Cadran)

Historical significance

  • Military counter. Punch marks: goldsmith’s mark Dupré, letter B and N° 3841 on inside of case-back. Dome signed: Breguet et fils HORGERS DE LA MARINE ROYALE N° 384. Dial signed: BREGUET ET FILS. Circa 1822
  • The polished silver case has gold hinges and pushpieces.
  • The engine-turned silver dial is engraved with a scale of 60 to 125 on the exterior circle. It is used for measuring soldiers’ marching speeds, which are indicated by the blued steel Breguet central hand. A small sub-dial at the bottom is divided into sixty parts.
  • The most interesting feature of this counter is its movement: it has a spring-detent escapement with an intermediate wheel between the escape wheel and the brass annular balance. This wheel has a cylindrical balance spring (approximately four revolutions) and a regulating system comprising an index making two revolutions around the balance spring.
  • The counter can be started and stopped by two pushpieces on the case-middle.

Photographs

Compteur militaire (MIH I-125)
Compteur militaire (MIH I-125) — Musée international d'horlogerie, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Museum collection photograph, rights review pending. MIH collection record
Compteur militaire (MIH I-125)
Compteur militaire (MIH I-125) — Musée international d'horlogerie, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Museum collection photograph, rights review pending. MIH collection record
Compteur militaire (MIH I-125)
Compteur militaire (MIH I-125) — Musée international d'horlogerie, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Museum collection photograph, rights review pending. MIH collection record

Photographs are illustrative examples of the type, not necessarily the exact object described. Verify details against the source file page.

Sources & references

  1. Musée international d'horlogerie, online collection record, inv. I-125: https://collection.mih.ch/fr/collection/item/37685/

Where sources disagree, the disagreement is stated rather than resolved silently.