Robert Grinkin Oval Pendant Watch
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1625
This early 17th-century pendant watch is attributed to the London maker Robert Grinkin and dates to approximately 1625. It features an oval case construction with a silver band chased in foliage and an outer cover bearing engraved arms associated with John Stephens, Attorney General to Henry, Prince of Wales and Charles I, added around 1700.
The dial is chased and engraved with inhabited foliage and includes an applied silver chapter ring with radial Roman numerals and star half-hour markers. Internally, the watch is powered by a hinged gilt brass full-plate movement. It utilizes round baluster pillars, a fusee with gut line, and a verge escapement with a plain steel two-arm balance lacking a spring. The watch is signed on the backplate and includes an irregular florally pierced gilt brass cock and a ratchet wheel setup.
This piece is documented in several horological publications.
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
- Type
- Oval pendant watch
- Maker
- Robert Grinkin
- Balance
- Plain steel two-arm without spring
- Escapement
- Verge
- Place recorded
- London, England
- Case dimensions
- 58 x 35 mm
- Case construction
- Silver band and gilt brass
- Date of production
- circa 1625
- Signature location
- Backplate
- Arms engraving date
- circa 1700
- Maker / attribution
- Robert Grinkin
Design
- Case and Dial
- The watch is housed in an oval, two-body case featuring a silver band decorated with chased foliage. An outer hinged cover carries the engraved arms of John Stephens, who served as Attorney General to Henry, Prince of Wales, and Charles I. The inner surface of this cover is engraved with a laurel wreath. It is noted that these armorial engravings date to approximately 1700, reflecting later historical provenance. The dial plate is finished with detailed chasing and engraving featuring inhabited foliage. An applied silver chapter ring is mounted to the dial, displaying radial Roman numerals alongside star-shaped half-hour markers. Time is indicated by an elaborate blued steel single hand, which sits centrally over the decorated dial plate. The watch remains in a pendant format, consistent with its design for portable use during the early 17th century.
- Visible features
- • Oval gilt brass and silver two-body case • Applied silver chapter ring with radial Roman numerals • Movement with round baluster pillars and gut line fusee • Irregular florally pierced gilt brass cock
- Movement and Escapement
- The movement is constructed as a hinged gilt brass oval full-plate. It is supported by round baluster pillars, which provide the structural framework for the gear train. Energy is transmitted through a fusee system utilizing a gut line, which was a common feature for watches of this period. The escapement is of the verge type, controlling a plain steel two-arm balance that operates without a balance spring. Additional mechanical features include an irregular, florally pierced gilt brass cock, which is secured by a pin. A ratchet wheel setup with a matching cock is also incorporated into the design. The backplate features an engraved foliate band along its border and bears the signature of the maker.
- Provenance and Documentation
- This watch has been the subject of multiple historical references and horological studies. It was previously sold by Antiquorum in Geneva during the 1995 auction titled "The Art of British Horology." Documentation also suggests it is almost identical to a watch illustrated in T.P. Camerer Cuss's 1976 work, "The Camerer Cuss Book of Antique Watches." Further academic analysis regarding the maker and the watch appears in publications such as "Antiquarian Horology" and the "Notes and Records of the Royal Society of London." Robert Grinkin was a significant figure in 17th-century London clockmaking. He was a member of the Clockmakers' Company from its founding in 1632, eventually serving as master on two separate occasions during the mid-17th century.
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: Arms were engraved circa 1700, potentially well after the original production date of the watch
- Research required: Attribution of the specific maker within the Grinkin family remains historically contextual rather than definitively verified by a specific workshop mark