Sigismund Rentzsch gold case-wound quarter repeating pocket watch
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1827
This gold pocket watch by Sigismund Rentzsch, London, dates to circa 1827 and features an early system of keyless operation. Measuring 47 mm in diameter, the piece is wound by turning the case back counter-clockwise, while rotating the front bezel activates quarter repeating.
Time setting is achieved via a liftable cap on the pendant. The gilded movement employs a ruby cylinder escapement and strikes on a coiled gong. Its gold dial exhibits an engine-turned centre, a satin-finished Roman numeral chapter ring, an offset subsidiary seconds display, and blued steel moon hands.
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
- Repeating watch
- Diameter
- 47 mm
- Escapement
- Ruby cylinder
- Dial Material
- Gold
- Place recorded
- United Kingdom
- Case Maker's Mark
- LC with scroll above incuse for Louis Comtesse
- Winding Mechanism
- Case back rotated counter clockwise
- Maker / attribution
- Sigismund Rentzsch
Design
- Visible features
- • Engine-turned gold dial centre with a small plaque signed RENTZSCH below XII. • Off-set subsidiary seconds subdial positioned between 7 and 8 o'clock. • Blued steel open-tipped moon hands and a beaded outer minute track. • Bow and fluted pendant cap at the top of the case.
- Dial and Exterior
- The gold dial features an engine-turned center with a signature plaque below the XII numeral. It displays a satin-finished chapter ring with Roman numerals, an off-set subsidiary seconds subdial, and an outer pearled minute track. The watch is fitted with blued steel moon hands. The gold case is engine-turned and features a central cartouche engraved with the monogram 'JW'. The case back can be unscrewed for release, and the case bears a maker's mark for Louis Comtesse.
- Movement and Condition
- The gilded movement is equipped with a ruby cylinder escapement, a flat steel three-arm balance, and a going barrel with Geneva stop work. The movement signed 'Rentzsch, London' repeats on a coiled gong. At the time of cataloguing, the movement was running and winding, and the hand-set was operational. The repeating work was noted as not functioning. The dial and case exhibit light scuffs, with rubbing to the engine-turned decoration.
- Case Construction and Keyless Operation
- The watch utilizes an early form of keyless winding and hand-setting. The movement is wound by rotating the case back counter-clockwise, which engages a toothed wheel on the interior with a wheel fixed to the mainspring barrel. Time setting is accessed by lifting a cap located on the pendant. The quarter repeating mechanism is activated by rotating the front bezel: clockwise rotation strikes the hours, while counter-clockwise rotation strikes the quarters. A small pawl fixed to the bezel interacts with an annular rack and the hour hand to track time.
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: The internal movement and case back mechanism are not shown in this front view.
- Research required: Source notes repeating work was not functioning at the time of cataloguing.