Abraham Chapuis & Barral Musical Pocket Watch
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1812
This musical pocket watch was manufactured by Abraham Chapuis & Barral in Geneva, 1812. The timepiece features a four-body 'Empire' style case with a polished back and reeded band and bezels.
The dial is white enamel with Breguet numerals, outer minute divisions, and a winding aperture located at 4 o'clock, paired with blued-steel Breguet hands. The movement is 50 mm (22''') in diameter, equipped with a fixed barrel and a cylinder escapement with a three-arm brass balance. Notably, the watch incorporates a musical function utilizing a pinned cylinder and 35 tuned vibrating blades organized into twelve sections.
A gold engine-turned cover protects the pinned cylinder, and tempo adjustment is managed by a pinion governor. The watch, accompanied by a gold chain and key, is capable of quarter-repeating on gongs by depressing the pendant.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Date
- 1812
- Type
- Musical pocket watch
- Maker
- Abraham Chapuis & Barral
- Case diameter
- 58 mm
- Place recorded
- Geneva, Switzerland
- Maker / attribution
- Abraham Chapuis & Barral
- Repeating mechanism
- Quarter-repeater
- Included accessories
- Gold chain and key
Design
- Visible features
- • White enamel dial with Breguet numerals • Winding aperture located at the 4 o'clock position • Gold-colored case with reeded side bands • Blued-steel hands of Breguet style
- Case and Dial Construction
- The watch is housed in a four-body 'Empire' style gold case. The exterior features a polished back, while the band and bezels are decorated with reeding. A gilt hinged cuvette is present within the case assembly. The watch has a diameter of 58 mm. The dial is constructed from white enamel and features Breguet numerals. Outer minute track divisions are present, and a winding aperture is positioned at the 4 o'clock index. The time is displayed via a set of blued-steel Breguet hands.
- Movement and Musical Mechanism
- The movement is built with a fixed barrel and a cylinder escapement, utilizing a three-arm brass balance with a flat balance spring. The watch provides a quarter-repeating function, which is activated by depressing the pendant. The integrated musical mechanism is of particular construction, using a pinned cylinder rather than a pinned barrel. The system consists of 35 tuned vibrating blades, separated into twelve sections, with one section containing two blades and the others containing three. Tempo control is handled by a pinion governor situated in an eccentric socket, and the cylinder is shielded by a gold engine-turned cover.
- Provenance and Historical Context
- Abraham Chapuis & Barral were active in the early 19th century and are known for producing musical watches using cylinder escapements. Research indicates that their watches often utilized quarter-repeating mechanisms alongside virgule or reverse cylinder escapements. The construction of this specific watch is noted for its rarity due to the placement of the gongs on the pillar plate beneath the dial, as well as the use of the pinned cylinder. This item is referenced in the literature authored by Katheleen H. Pritchard.
Identification
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: The movement is noted by the auction description to require an overhaul.
- Research required: The dial is classified as being in 'Fair' condition.