Skip to content
The Encyclopedia of Horology

Not recorded, France · 1786–1859

Henri Motel

Partially verified

Maker of catalogued marine chronometer, two-day marine chronometer

Life & work

Born in 1786, Henri Motel underwent training as a marine horologist in Paris under Pierre Louis Berthoud beginning in 1806.

Following the death of his mentor in 1813, Motel managed the Berthoud workshop for several years while completing unexecuted commissions. After the death of Breguet in 1823, Motel was appointed to the official position of Horloger de la Marine. His career was marked by several distinctions, including silver and gold medals at French industry exhibitions and his appointment as a Knight of the Legion of Honor.

The fuller biography summarises the open references listed under Sources; each statement was checked against the cited passage. Confirm key dates in period documents before relying on them.

Training, contributions & innovations

  • Motel was noted for his technical refinements, including the use of Houriet's spiral spring and cylindrical springs with conical terminal curves.

Documented works

  • A marine chronometer numbered 258, attributed to Henri Motel circa 1840, is recorded as having been serviced in 1887.

Collecting significance

The catalogued pieces listed on this page show the kinds of objects auction houses, dealers and museums attribute to this maker; each attribution is the source's own.

Firms, key models & movements

No firm, model or movement in this encyclopedia is yet recorded under this maker's name.

In the object catalogue

2 catalogued objects are recorded under Henri Motel. Attributions are as given by each source and are not independent authentication.

Diagram

12345let downstripcleanoilregulateorder of work; never skip letting down the mainspring
Schematic: order of work at the bench. An outline schematic drawn to show the arrangement of the parts discussed here. It is not a dimensioned working drawing and does not depict a particular maker's calibre.

Sources & references

  1. Motel, Jean François Henri/de, Watch-Wiki, retrieved 2026-11-03
  2. Motel, Jean François Henri/nl, Watch-Wiki, retrieved 2026-11-03

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