French Gold and Enamel Dumb Quarter-Repeating Pocket Watch with Chatelaine
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1780
This late 18th-century French pocket watch, signed by Gregson, is a dumb quarter-repeating timekeeper equipped with a calendar. The watch features a gold and champlevé enamel consular case decorated with miniature floral paintings and dark blue enamel.
The construction incorporates concealed case hinges. Its movement is a full-plate gilt fusee type, featuring a polished steel cylinder escapement, a balance wheel with three spokes and a blued steel hairspring, a blued regulator with a gold indicator, and an endstone set in polished steel. The white enamel dial displays black Arabic numerals for hours and minutes, and red Arabic numerals for the days of the month. It includes gold beetle-and-poker hands and a blued steel calendar hand.
The watch is presented with a matching gold and enamel chatelaine that carries two keys, one lacking a stem, housed in a black Moroccan leather display box.
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 1780
- Type
- Dumb quarter repeating pocket watch
- Hands
- Gold beetle and poker, blued steel calendar
- Maker
- Gregson
- Movement
- Full-plate gilt fusee
- Case type
- Gold and enamel consular
- Escapement
- Polished steel cylinder
- Complications
- Dumb quarter repeating and calendar
- Place recorded
- France
- Maker / attribution
- Gregson
Design
- Visible features
- • Hidden case hinges integrated into the internal groove • Polished steel cylinder escapement • White enamel dial with red and black numerals • Includes matching chatelaine with two keys
- Case and Dial Design
- The watch is housed in a consular case crafted from gold, detailed with elaborate champlevé enamel work. The decoration features deep blue enamel and intricate miniature paintings depicting floral arrangements. A significant technical detail of the casing is the placement of the hinge mechanisms, which are completely concealed within a groove inside the case, providing a uniform exterior appearance. The white enamel dial serves as the primary interface for both time and date. It indicates the hours and quarters using black Arabic numerals, while the days of the month are marked with red Arabic numerals. The dial is equipped with gold hands in the beetle-and-poker style, accompanied by a dedicated blued steel hand for the calendar function. The dial's brass edge carries the signature of the maker, Gregson.
- Movement and Complication
- The watch is powered by a full-plate gilt fusee movement. Key elements of the assembly include a three-spoke balance wheel paired with a blued steel hairspring and a blued steel regulator featuring a gold indicator. The movement utilizes a polished steel cylinder escapement. A notable component is the diamond endstone, which is mounted on a polished steel base. The watch functions as a dumb quarter-repeater, an mechanism that indicates time through vibrations or faint internal taps against blocks within the case rather than through the use of a traditional audible gong. This feature allowed the owner to check the time discreetly in low-light conditions or quiet environments. The repeating sequence is initiated via a pendant push-piece.
- Chatelaine and Presentation
- Accompanying the watch is a gold and enamel chatelaine, which matches the watch's aesthetic with decorative floral enamel scenes. The chatelaine holds two keys designed for winding and setting; one of these keys is recorded as missing its stem. The watch is stored in a fitted display box, which is covered in black Moroccan leather and lined with red velvet. The maker, Gregson, is confirmed by signatures located on both the dust cover of the movement and the edge of the dial. The overall ensemble serves as an example of 18th-century horological presentation for personal accessories.
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: One key is missing its stem
- Research required: Authenticity of individual components relies on the auction description