Berthoud Frères No. 172 Marine Deck Watch
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1822
This marine deck watch, serial number 172, was produced circa 1822 by Berthoud Frères. Constructed in the workshop of Louis Berthoud following his death, the instrument was finished under the guidance of Henri Motel.
The watch consists of a silvered regulator-type dial featuring an upper subsidiary Roman numeral hour chapter, a central minute hand, and a lower subsidiary seconds dial. The movement is a frosted and gilt full-plate design, featuring conical pillars secured by nuts, a fusee with chain, and a pivoted detent escapement. It utilizes a three-arm compensation balance equipped with wedged weights and timing screws, paired with a free-sprung blued steel helical balance spring.
The mechanism is housed within a brass case, which is itself secured inside a mahogany deck watch box. The piece was originally sold to Monsieur Delaval in Marseille for 1,800 Francs and has been documented in the Léon Leroy Collection.
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
- circa 1822
- Type
- Marine deck watch
- Maker
- Berthoud Frères
- Case Type
- Triple-body mahogany box containing a brass case
- Escapement
- Pivoted detent escapement
- Provenance
- Léon Leroy Collection
- Original Sale
- Sold to Monsieur Delaval, Marseille for 1,800 Francs
- Serial Number
- 172
- Maker / attribution
- Berthoud Frères
Design
- Visible features
- • Silvered dial with regulator layout • Blued steel Breguet-style hands • Mahogany box with '172 BERTHOUD' plaque • Movement features a fusee and chain
- Movement and Escapement
- The movement is a frosted and gilt full-plate calibre, fully jeweled and constructed using conical pillars that are secured with nuts and washers. Power is delivered through a fusee with chain, which includes a maintaining power mechanism. The mainspring itself is signed by Vincent and dated. The escapement is a pivoted detent type. Regulation is achieved through a three-arm compensation balance, which incorporates three wedged weights and timing screws. The balance spring is a free-sprung blued steel helical design. The movement is signed, and while produced after Louis Berthoud's death under Henri Motel, the configuration is noted as identical to the maker's designs from 1800.
- Case and Dial Construction
- Inside this wooden enclosure, a brass case, described as enforme de tabatière (snuff-box shape), protects the movement. The box is adorned with a plaque identifying the piece as '172 BERTHOUD'. The dial features a silvered regulator-style arrangement. It includes a distinct subsidiary chapter for hours in Roman numerals, while the minute track is positioned along the outer border of the bezel. A subsidiary seconds dial is located below the hour chapter. The time is indicated by blued steel Breguet-style hands.
- Provenance and Documentation
- The chronometer has an established provenance linked to the Léon Leroy Collection, as evidenced by a paper label found inside the cover. Historical records indicate the piece was originally sold to a Monsieur Delaval in Marseille for the sum of 1,800 Francs. The instrument is referenced in the academic publication 'La Longitude en mer à l’heure de Louis Berthoud et de Henri Motel' by J.-C. Sabrier, published by Antiquorum Editions in 1993.
Identification
- Serial number
- 172
- 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: Attribution to Louis Berthoud's workshop after his death
- Research required: Extent of Henri Motel's direct involvement in construction