Charles Clay Gold and Rock Crystal Watch
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
ca. 1730-1739
This watch is constructed from gold and rock crystal, dating to approximately 1730-1739. It is signed "Cha: Clay, London, 1197" on the movement. Charles Clay, who originated from Emley, Yorkshire, operated a shop south of St Mary-Le Strand, London, from 1720.
He was appointed Clockmaker to His Majesty's Board of Works by 1723, a role he maintained until at least 1737. Known for his work on musical machines and clocks, Clay also gained prominence for a 1716 petition for a patent for a repeating and musical watch, a process that involved a significant legal dispute with the Clockmakers' Company. The object is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum under accession number 4299-1857.
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
- ca. 1730-1739
- Type
- Pocket watch
- Maker
- Charles Clay
- Dimensions
- 4.9 cm x 4.6 cm x 2.3 cm
- Inscriptions
- Cha: Clay, London, 1197
- Place recorded
- England
- Place of origin
- England
- Maker / attribution
- Charles Clay
Design
- Visible features
- • Rock crystal case construction • Movement signed 'Cha: Clay, London, 1197' • White enamel dial with Roman numerals • Gilded foliate scrollwork on the movement
- Maker and Background
- Charles Clay was a professional clockmaker active in London during the early 18th century. He was originally from Emley, near Huddersfield, and established his business south of St Mary-Le Strand in 1720. His career was marked by his position as Clockmaker to His Majesty's Board of Works, a role he held from 1723 until at least 1737. Clay's professional activities were documented by his attempts to secure a patent for a repeating and musical watch in 1716. Although he received initial support from the Attorney General, his efforts were contested by the Clockmakers' Company and Daniel Quare. Clay is also noted for his work on complex musical machines, a passion that, according to his obituary in 1740, culminated in his order to destroy his unfinished musical machine shortly before his death.
- Construction and Design
- The watch exhibits a specialized design characterized by the use of rock crystal in its case, paired with gold. The dial is enamel, displaying a chapter ring with Roman numerals for the hours and an outer track with Arabic numerals denoting five-minute intervals. The dial configuration includes a central hand assembly visible in the provided imagery. The movement is housed within the gold and crystal case and features intricate gilded metalwork.
- Provenance and Comparisons
- The watch is documented under the V&A museum collection with the accession number 4299-1857. The comparison piece, which also featured a rock crystal case, provides context for the production series of Clay's watches.
Identification
- Serial number
- 1197
- Accession number
- 4299-1857
- 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: Exact dating relies on the circa attribution provided by the museum source
- Research required: The specific functional state of the movement remains unverified by provided records