Pierre Combret oval alarm watch
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1620
This is a single-hand oval alarm watch with a concealed dial, attributed to the maker Pierre Combret of Lyon, circa 1620. The watch is constructed from silver and gilt metal.
The case is a two-body, 'fermée' type with a silver hinged cover, featuring a chased and 'taille douce' engraving depicting Hercules at the crossroads. The back of the case is decorated with a silver engraving of King David on the throne. The gilt brass band is pierced and engraved with flower and leaf decoration. The dial is an oval silver plate featuring applied gilt metal Roman numerals and an inner revolving alarm disc with Arabic numerals.
The internal gilt brass full plate movement measures 34 x 42 mm and features a verge escapement, fusee with gut line, a two-arm brass circular foliot, and is signed on the back plate. It includes an alarm mechanism striking on an oval bell.
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 1620
- Type
- Oval alarm watch
- Maker
- Pierre Combret
- Material
- Silver and gilt metal
- Escapement
- Verge
- Place recorded
- France
- Case Dimensions
- 76 x 46 mm
- Maker / attribution
- Pierre Combret
- Movement Dimensions
- 34 x 42 mm
- Engraving inspiration
- Etienne Delaune
Design
- Visible features
- • Engraved front cover depicting Hercules between Virtue and Vice • Gilt brass band with pierced flower and leaf patterns • Oval plate dial with central alarm setting disc • Full plate movement with verge escapement
- Provenance and Literature
- The watch is attributed to Pierre Combret II (1581-1622) of Lyon. Pierre Combret II was the son of Pierre and was known for producing various shapes of watches, including oval, octagonal, and cruciform examples, as well as pendant watches in the shapes of shellfish or tulips. This specific timepiece is documented as having been published in the Sandberg book, where it appears on pages 44 and 45. The auction description reports that it is considered rare to find a watch from the early seventeenth century in its present state of preservation.
- Case and Dial Construction
- The watch is housed in a two-body, 'fermée' type case made of silver and gilt metal. The exterior front cover is decorated with a chased and 'taille douce' engraving of Hercules at the crossroads, a design after an engraving by Etienne Delaune. The gilt brass band of the case is pierced and engraved with flower and leaf motifs and features small finials and a chiselled pendant with a loose ring. The dial consists of an oval silver plate, which displays applied gilt metal radial Roman numerals. An inner revolving alarm disc is marked with Arabic numerals, and a small square opening at 12 o'clock indicates the hour.
- Movement and Alarm Mechanism
- The internal mechanism is an oval, gilt brass full plate movement measuring 34 x 42 mm. It is equipped with vase pillars, a fusee with a gut line, and a short four-wheel train. Timekeeping is regulated by a verge escapement and a two-arm brass circular foliot. The balance cock is elongated and small, featuring piercing and engraving of flowers. The watch includes an alarm function, which strikes on an oval bell. The alarm system operates via a fixed engraved barrel with a two-wheel train and a large brass pinion on the second wheel. The watch is set using a blued-steel 'poker' hand. The movement is signed on the back plate. The silver back of the watch is engraved with a scene of King David on the throne and Nathan before him.
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: Attribution to Pierre Combret is based on historical documentation provided by the source
- Research required: Exact manufacturing date is stated as circa 1620