Astra Quarter Repeating Silver Pocket Watch
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1895
This late nineteenth-century Swiss open-face pocket watch features a quarter-repeater mechanism activated by a slide located on the side of the silver case. The watch is powered by a keyless-wound, three-quarter plate gilt movement, which includes a compensation balance, an overcoil hairspring, and a club-foot lever escapement.
The mechanism strikes a single polished steel gong, with a single hammer providing two consecutive strikes for each quarter hour. The white enamel dial is of a clip-on design, featuring Roman numerals, blued steel hands, and a subsidiary seconds dial at the six o'clock position. The silver case is complemented by a gilt crown and an interior silver dust cover (cuvette). The movement plate is signed with the Astra trademark and the Swiss patent number 10090, related to a registration from April 1895.
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
- Type
- Quarter repeating pocket watch
- Escapement
- Club-foot lever
- Case material
- Silver
- Movement type
- Keyless, three-quarter plate gilt
- Patent number
- 10090
- Place recorded
- Switzerland
- Maker / attribution
- Carl Hahlweg (Astra trademark)
- Repeating mechanism
- Quarter repeater
Design
- Case and Dial
- The timepiece is presented in an open-face silver case with a simple, polished finish. The watch is fitted with a gilt crown and a hinged inner silver dust cover, or cuvette, intended to protect the movement. The entire assembly includes a silver pendant and bow for attachment. The dial is constructed of white enamel and is of a clip-on design. It features Roman numeral hour markers and blued steel hands.
- Visible features
- • Case features a slide mechanism for repeating function • Movement is signed with the Astra trademark and patent 10090 • Dial includes a subsidiary seconds register at the six o'clock position • Movement utilizes a three-quarter plate architecture with gilt finish
- Condition and Attribution
- The watch is attributed to the late nineteenth century, specifically circa 1895, based on the associated patent date. The documentation notes that the watch has not been evaluated for operational status or service history. Prospective owners are encouraged to independently assess the integrity of the repeating mechanism, the condition of the springs and internal gong, the state of the casing hinges, and the surface of the enamel dial for potential hairline fractures.
- Movement and Complication
- The watch is equipped with a quarter-repeater complication that strikes a single polished steel gong. The mechanism is engaged via a sliding lever located on the exterior of the case. Upon activation, the hammer strikes twice for every quarter hour. The movement is a keyless, three-quarter plate design with a gilt finish. Technical features include a compensation balance, a blued steel overcoil hairspring, a polished steel regulator, and a club-foot lever escapement. The movement is marked with the Astra brand name and the Swiss patent number 10090, dated to April 1895.
Identification
- Reference
- 10090
- 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 auction description indicates the service history and functional status of the repeating mechanism are unknown
- Research required: The auction description advises independent verification of the mechanical condition, springs, gong, and dial integrity