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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Paris

"Onion" watch

Verified

The case is polished silver. The engraved gilded brass dial has enamel cartouches with painted hours and an enamelled ring with the quarters indicated by alternate dots and strokes. The fleur-de-lis hand is blued steel.

Technical facts

Inventory number
MIH I-39
Object type
Pocket watch
Place of production
Paris
Dating
1670 - 1690
Materials and techniques (catalogue wording)
argent, laiton, émail
Dimensions (catalogue)
dimensions min/max: 51 x 60 mm
Inscriptions (catalogue)
GILLES MARTINOT A PARIS (Mouvement); Fleur de lys et lettre P (Pendant)

Historical significance

  • The case is polished silver. The engraved gilded brass dial has enamel cartouches with painted hours and an enamelled ring with the quarters indicated by alternate dots and strokes. The fleur-de-lis hand is blued steel.
  • The movement has four Egyptian pillars, a fusee with chain and a verge escapement. It is wound in the centre of the dial. The solid gilded-brass balance cock is decorated with birds and symmetrical ornaments in the style of Bérain. A balance arm carries a metal disc which, seen through an aperture in the balance cock, gives the illusion of a pendulum.

Photographs

"Onion" watch (MIH I-39)
"Onion" watch (MIH I-39) — Musée international d'horlogerie, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Museum collection photograph, rights review pending. MIH collection record
"Onion" watch (MIH I-39)
"Onion" watch (MIH I-39) — Musée international d'horlogerie, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Museum collection photograph, rights review pending. MIH collection record
"Onion" watch (MIH I-39)
"Onion" watch (MIH I-39) — 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-39: https://collection.mih.ch/fr/collection/item/39691/

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