Henry Quarter-Repeating à Toc Pendant Watch
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1790
This pendant watch by Henry of Paris, numbered 1787 and dating to approximately 1790, is a quarter-repeating à toc timepiece. The watch features a two-body gold case with a concealed hinge.
The case back is adorned with translucent royal blue guilloche enamel, embellished with gold paillons and a border of set pearls. The bezel is also pearl-set. It includes a matte silver dial with engine-turned details, painted radial Roman numerals, and outer minute divisions, with gold Breguet hands. The watch is powered by a hinged, matte gilt 31 mm movement featuring conical pillars, a fusee and chain mechanism, a cylinder escapement, and a three-arm balance with a flat balance spring.
It is accompanied by a short gold and enamel chain and a matching gold, enamel, and pearl-set winding key. The auction description reports that the movement has a later escapement requiring repair, and the hands are replacements.
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 1790
- Type
- Quarter-repeating pendant watch
- Hands
- Gold Breguet hands
- Maker
- Henry
- Case Type
- Two-body
- Escapement
- Cylinder escapement
- Serial Number
- 1787
- Condition note
- Later hands
- Place recorded
- Paris
- Movement Diameter
- 31 mm
- Maker / attribution
- Henry
Design
- Visible features
- • Case back features a pattern of translucent blue guilloche enamel with gold paillons. • Bezel is decorated with a continuous border of small set pearls. • The winding key is diamond-shaped and set with pearls and blue enamel. • The movement is a 31 mm diameter caliber with a pierced and chased balance cock.
- Movement and Mechanics
- The movement is a 31 mm diameter caliber, hinged to the case for access. It is finished in matte gilt and utilizes conical pillars. The power source is a traditional fusee and chain mechanism. The regulation is managed through a three-arm balance wheel paired with a flat balance spring. The watch includes a quarter-repeating function operating 'à toc', meaning it strikes against the case rather than on a gong. The repeating mechanism employs two polished steel hammers located on the side of the movement. A pierced and chased continental-style balance cock holds the balance staff, which is secured by a polished steel endplate.
- Case and Enamel Decoration
- The watch is housed in a two-body gold case, designed as a pendant piece. The construction incorporates a concealed hinge to maintain the integrity of the decorative back. The primary aesthetic feature is the translucent royal blue guilloche enamel applied to the back of the watch, which is further embellished with gold paillons in a repeated design. To enhance its ornamental quality, the case features a border of pearls surrounding the back. A matching pearl-set arrangement is found on the bezel. The piece is accompanied by a short chain and a diamond-shaped key, both executed in matching gold, enamel, and pearl materials to complement the pendant watch's design.
- Dial and Reported Condition
- The dial is made of matte silver and features an engine-turned finish. Time is indicated by painted radial Roman numerals, with an outer track providing minute divisions. The time is displayed via gold Breguet-style hands. Regarding the condition, the auction description reports that the movement features a later escapement that currently requires repair. Furthermore, the hands currently on the watch are recorded as being later replacements. The dial itself is described as fair, with signs of oxidation.
Identification
- Serial number
- 1787
- 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 report notes the escapement is a later replacement and requires repair.
- Research required: The hands are identified as later replacements by the auction house condition report.