Swiss gold and enamel quarter repeating jump hour watch made for the Ottoman Market, no. 28283
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
Circa 1840
This Swiss gold and enamel pocket watch, dated circa 1840 and numbered 28283, was made for the Ottoman Market. It incorporates an aperture positioned above the dial displaying hours with Turkish numerals alongside a quarter-repeating mechanism.
The engine-turned silver dial features stylised palm-leaf motifs, a central blued steel minute hand, and subsidiary seconds. The 50 mm gold case displays black and white champlevé enamel with scrolling gold foliage on the bezel, pendant, and bow. Sotheby's reports the movement features a ruby cylinder escapement, parachute suspension, and quarter-turn piston repeat with two polished steel hammers.
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
- Escapement
- Ruby cylinder escapement
- Case diameter
- 50 mm
- Dial aperture
- Aperture above for hours with Turkish numerals
- Target market
- Ottoman Market
- Place recorded
- Switzerland
- Maker / attribution
- JB
- Repeating mechanism
- Quarter-turn piston repeat on coiled steel gongs
Design
- Visible features
- • Aperture positioned at 12 o'clock displaying an hour numeral in Turkish script • Silver engine-turned dial with fan and palm-leaf guilloché patterns and subsidiary seconds at 6 o'clock • Single central blued steel hand with open circle counterpoise • Bezel, pendant, and bow decorated with black and white champlevé enamel and scrolling gold floral motifs
- Dial Configuration and Display
- The watch features an engine-turned silver dial designed for the Ottoman market. An aperture positioned above displays jumping hours in Turkish numerals, while a single central blued steel minute hand with an open circle counterpoise traverses the dial. The dial includes stylised palm-leaf motifs and a subsidiary seconds register at 6 o'clock. Sotheby's notes that additional decorative engine-turning extends to the dial edge concealed beneath the bezel.
- Case Construction and Enamelling
- The 50 mm gold case features black and white champlevé enamel with scrolling gold floral motifs visible on the bezel, pendant, and bow. According to the auction catalogue, the reverse features a central scallop-shaped cartouche painted en grisaille depicting roses and a trophy of love, framed en suite by enamel foliage. The interior of the case back is numbered 28283 and bears the maker's mark 'JB' within a lozenge-shaped cartouche.
- Reported Movement and Repeating Mechanism
- The movement is not visible in the primary photograph, but Sotheby's reports an unsigned, frosted gilded movement equipped with a ruby cylinder escapement, flat three-arm balance, blued steel regulation, and parachute suspension. The catalogue notes that these features reflect the influence of Breguet. The repeating mechanism operates via a quarter-turn piston with two polished steel hammers repeating on coiled steel gongs. A polished gold cuvette, also numbered 28283, includes apertures for winding and hand-setting and is engraved with movement details.
Identification
- Serial number
- 28283
- 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: Movement, internal cuvette, and the en grisaille painted case back are not visible in the front-facing photograph
- Research required: The movement is unsigned; maker attribution 'JB' derives from an internal lozenge cartouche reported by the auction house