Charlemont Gold Openface Pocket Watch with Verge Escapement and Repetition
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
ca. 1800
This gold openface pocket watch features an enamel dial with Arabic numerals, gilt hands, and a dial-side winding aperture near the 2 o'clock position. The gilt movement is equipped with a verge escapement, chain and fusee, and a quarter-hour repetition striking on an underside bell when the pendant is depressed.
Catalogued as signed 'Charlemont à Besancon' and dating to circa 1800, the watch measures 5.5 cm in diameter. The lot includes an attached Russian 14-karat red gold watch chain with a T-bar.
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
- Verge repeating pocket watch
- Diameter
- 5.5 cm
- Complication
- Quarter hourly repetition to a bell on the underside
- Watch Weight
- 137.1 g
- Condition Note
- Key lacking
- Place recorded
- France
- Maker Signature
- Charlemont à Besancon
- Movement Mechanism
- Verge escapement, chain and fusee
- Maker / attribution
- Charlemont
Design
- Visible features
- • White enamel dial featuring Breguet-style Arabic numerals and an outer minute track. • Winding aperture situated on the dial between 1 and 2 o'clock. • Gilt openface case with polished bezel and long pendant. • Gold-toned link watch chain terminating in a cylindrical T-bar.
- Movement and Complications
- The watch is powered by a gilt movement featuring a verge escapement with chain and fusee. It includes a quarter-hourly repetition mechanism that strikes on a bell located on the underside of the movement, activated by pressing the pendant. The movement is signed 'Charlemont à Besancon'.
- Condition and Recorded Data
- The auction source dates the item to approximately 1800. The winding key is noted as lacking. The watch weight is recorded as 137.1 g, and the chain weight is 25.4 g. The catalogue entry contains the date range '1986 - 1908' regarding the chain, which is an apparent typographical error.
- Dial and Exterior Construction
- The timepiece features an enamel dial with Arabic numerals and gilt hands. A winding aperture is located on the dial near the 2 o'clock position. The openface watch measures 5.5 cm in diameter. The lot includes an attached Russian 14k red gold watch chain with a length of 35 cm.
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 auction catalogue explicitly notes that the winding key is lacking.
- Research required: The chain is catalogued with the date range '1986 - 1908', which appears to be a source typographical error for 1896–1908.