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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Paris

"Onion" alarm watch

Verified

The gilded brass case is covered with black leather. The pierced casing-flange is engraved with scrolls. The dial has a white enamel chapter with blue enamelled Roman numerals. The gilded brass alarm dial in the centre has a steel fleur-de-lis hour hand.

Technical facts

Inventory number
MIH I-20
Object type
Pocket watch
Place of production
Paris
Dating
1690 - 1710
Materials and techniques (catalogue wording)
laiton, cuir, émail
Dimensions (catalogue)
dimensions min/max: 51 x 60 mm
Inscriptions (catalogue)
BALTAZAR MARTINOT A PARIS (Mouvement)

Historical significance

  • The gilded brass case is covered with black leather. The pierced casing-flange is engraved with scrolls. The dial has a white enamel chapter with blue enamelled Roman numerals. The gilded brass alarm dial in the centre has a steel fleur-de-lis hour hand.
  • The movement has a fusee with chain and a verge escapement. Both the alarm barrel and large gilded brass balance cock are decorated in the style of Bérain. A balance with a false pendulum can be seen through an aperture.

Photographs

"Onion" alarm watch (MIH I-20)
"Onion" alarm watch (MIH I-20) — Musée international d'horlogerie, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Museum collection photograph, rights review pending. MIH collection record
"Onion" alarm watch (MIH I-20)
"Onion" alarm watch (MIH I-20) — Musée international d'horlogerie, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Museum collection photograph, rights review pending. MIH collection record
"Onion" alarm watch (MIH I-20)
"Onion" alarm watch (MIH I-20) — 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-20: https://collection.mih.ch/fr/collection/item/37698/

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