Grignion & Son Half-Quarter Repeating Pair-Cased Pocket Watch
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1770
This 22K gold, half-quarter repeating pair-cased pocket watch is attributed to Grignion & Son of Covent Garden, London, and dates to approximately 1770. The watch features a white enamel dial with Roman numerals and an outer minute track with Arabic five-minute markers, fitted with gold arrow hands.
The movement is 32 mm in diameter, comprising a frosted gilt finish with cylindrical pillars, a fusee with chain, a cylinder escapement, and a plain three-arm steel balance. The balance cock is pierced and engraved with a single foot, complemented by a diamond endstone and a silver regulation dial. The movement is housed in a bassine-style inner case with a pierced, engraved geometric band and a silver dust cap. The outer case is decorated with painted enamel flowers on a pierced foliate bezel and features a prominent central enamel scene depicting Venus and Adonis in a wooded landscape.
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 1770
- Type
- Half-quarter repeating pair-cased pocket watch
- Maker
- Grignion & Son
- Diameter
- 48 mm
- Material
- 22K gold and painted enamel
- Signature
- Dial, movement and dust cap
- Escapement
- Cylinder
- Movement type
- Half-quarter repeating
- Place recorded
- England
- Maker / attribution
- Grignion & Son
Design
- Visible features
- • Outer pair case back features polychrome enamel scene of Venus and Adonis • Outer case bezel decorated with painted enamel flowers • Gold arrow-style hands displayed on white enamel dial • Case band features pierced and engraved geometric patterns
- Case and Exterior
- The watch is encased in a two-part pair-case construction. The outer case serves as the primary decorative element, featuring a pierced foliate bezel adorned with four panels of painted enamel flowers. The back of this outer case presents a detailed painted enamel scene of Venus and Adonis set within a wooded landscape, with the border matching the floral motifs of the bezel. The inner case is of the 'bassine' form, featuring a band that is both pierced and engraved with a repeating geometric pattern. The internal components are protected by a silver dust cap. The entirety of the outer casing is fabricated from 22K gold, which provides a setting for the repeating enamel work across both the central scene and the decorative floral panels found on the bezel.
- Dial and Condition
- The dial is composed of white enamel, featuring radial Roman numerals for the hours. An outer minute track is present, supplemented by Arabic numerals at five-minute intervals. The hands are fashioned in the 'arrow' style, executed in gold, providing contrast against the white enamel ground. The auction description reports that the object is in 'Good' condition across the case, movement, and dial categories.
- Movement and Repeating Mechanism
- The movement is 32 mm in diameter and features a frosted gilt finish. It incorporates traditional components of the period, including cylindrical pillars and a fusee-and-chain transmission system. The timekeeping is regulated by a cylinder escapement and a plain three-arm steel balance with a flat balance spring. The balance cock is a single-footed design, extensively pierced and engraved, and is topped with a diamond endstone. The watch includes a silver regulation dial. The half-quarter repeating function is activated by depressing the pendant, which causes the mechanism to strike on a bell, allowing the time to be determined audibly.
Identification
- Serial number
- 1974
- 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: Condition grading is reported as good, but an overhaul is recommended
- Research required: Provenance and specific history of the owners are not documented in the source