quarter-hour repeater pocket watch
Date1819
Inventory Number1993-1-0005
ClassificationWatch
Subject
Maker
Abraham-Louis Breguet
1747 - 1823
Maker
Antoine-Louis Breguet
1776 - 1858
Maker
Breguet et Fils
1807 - 1833
Maker
Breguet
founded 1775
Maker
LeRoy & Fils
1813 - 1960
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Dimensions7 x 5.3 x 1.3 cm (2 3/4 x 2 1/16 x 1/2 in.)
case: 2.4 x 8.5 x 10 cm (15/16 x 3 3/8 x 3 15/16 in.)
case: 2.4 x 8.5 x 10 cm (15/16 x 3 3/8 x 3 15/16 in.)
Material
DescriptionThis gold-case pocket watch has an open face with a white enamel dial. Hours are marked 1-12 every 1. The two hands are simple with open circles.
The back cover is plain. The interior of the back cover has hall marks, a case maker's mark, and serial numbers. There is also a "B," which may be William Cranch Bond's owner's mark. Around the rim of the interior various watchmaker's who have cleaned the watch have lightly scratched dates.
The dome of the watch has a winding hole with an arrow indicating the winding direction. It also has Breguet's serial number and signature. The interior of the dome is plane.
The movement has no top plate. It is gilt. There are two gongs, making this a quarter-hour or half-quarter-hour repeater.
The watch has a later, non-original, fitted storage box covered in red leather on the top and sides and green leather on the bottom. It is stamped with gold. The interior is lined with velvet and satin. There is a brass latch hook.
The back cover is plain. The interior of the back cover has hall marks, a case maker's mark, and serial numbers. There is also a "B," which may be William Cranch Bond's owner's mark. Around the rim of the interior various watchmaker's who have cleaned the watch have lightly scratched dates.
The dome of the watch has a winding hole with an arrow indicating the winding direction. It also has Breguet's serial number and signature. The interior of the dome is plane.
The movement has no top plate. It is gilt. There are two gongs, making this a quarter-hour or half-quarter-hour repeater.
The watch has a later, non-original, fitted storage box covered in red leather on the top and sides and green leather on the bottom. It is stamped with gold. The interior is lined with velvet and satin. There is a brass latch hook.
In Collection(s)
Signedon dial: BREGUET ET FILS
secret signature underneath the 12: No. 3254 / Breguet
on dome: Breguet / HOR[LO]GER. DE LA MARINE ROYALE
on back cover interior: B
case maker's mark on back cover interior: J [?] [in diamond with bird]
stamped on underside of storage box: L. DESOUTTER / FROM LE ROY & FILS / JEWELLER & WATCHMAKER / 1, MADOX STREET / LONDON
Inscribedmovement number on dome and in secret signature below 12 on dial: No. 3254
movement number on back cover interior: 3254
case maker's serial number on back cover interior: 2265
on storage box lid: No 164
ProvenanceWilliam Cranch Bond, Boston, Massachusetts, 1819-1859; ...; Edward P. Hamilton (of the Massachusetts Historical Society, and then Director of Fort Ticonderoga), Milton, Massachusetts, c. 1937-1962; gift to Harvard College Observatory, 1962; transferred to CHSI, 1963, via Donald Menzel, the HCO director.
Historical AttributesThis fine gold pocket watch was purchased by William Cranch Bond on 29 April 1819 from Chez Monsieur Godmard, Horloger in Paris. The watch is a repeater. Bond probably acquired it for precision use in astronomy.
Bond was overseas at the time inquiring of observatories and instrument makers of state-of-the-art apparatus that Harvard might acquire for a new, first-class observatory.
Bond also acquired a chronometer on this trip. It was by Arnold & Dent and has inv. no. 1998-1-1321.
George Lindsay
Date: 1724
Accessories: Winding key; box.
Object number: 1990-1-0007
John Pepys
Date: 1680-1708
Accessories: Key on cotton ribbon
Object number: 7953
N. James
Date: 1700-1725
Accessories: winding key
Object number: 7935
Bulova Watch Company, Inc.
Date: 1970
Accessories: owner's guide and registration
Object number: 1988-0026
William Fraser
Date: circa 1785
Accessories: in a small yellow (chamois?) pouch, perhaps not original
Object number: DW0619
Edouard Richard
Date: circa 1885
Accessories: gold chain and fob with gemstone (carved with intaglio head of Mercury)
Object number: 1990-2-0010
Hoyt Electrical Instrument Works
Date: late 19th-mid 20th Century
Object number: RS0522
Newton & Company
Date: 1861-1890
Accessories: brush, 2 watch glasses, 37 slides
Object number: 1997-1-0718
See also/See also
