Gold Quarter Repeating English Cylinder
£4,900.00
An rare early 19th Century dumb quarter repeating English cylinder by Recordon in a gold engine turned case. Unusual keywind gilt movement with both the going, repeating trains and repeating barrel under a single small engraved gilt bridge. Suspended engraved gilt going barrel with polished steel stopwork. Engraved sector cock with blue steel regulator, garnet endstone in a blue steel setting. Plain three arm polished steel balance with blue steel spiral hairspring. Polished steel cylinder, small brass escape wheel. Push pendant quarter repeating a toc on the rim of the case. Unusually large hour hammer, the quarter hammer pivoted under its own small engraved gilt cock. The repeating governor of ratchet wheel and lever. Fine white enamel dial with Roman numerals, blue steel Breguet hands. Engine turned 18 carat gold open face case, the back with a large vacant oval cartouche opened by a button at three o'clock. Gold push pendant and bow. Wound and set through the signed sprung gilt metal cuvette which is also engraved with instructions for use, later shutter to the set square. Maker's mark "HD".
An unusual watch in excellent overall condition. The layout of the movement similar to watches by Lepine and using a ratchet wheel governor which was not used by English makers. Louis Recordon was born in Switzerland, working in Greek Street, London from 1778. In 1797, he succeeded Josiah Emery, also from Switzerland, transferring to 33 Cockspur Street, Charing Cross. He appears to have continued using this signature until 1824 when the business passed to Peter Des Granges who continued the practice signing his work "Des Granges late Recordon". Recordon acted as Breguet's agent in London. His influence can be seen in many of Recordon's watches and, like Breguet, their design is frequently individual, as in this example. Casemaker John Henry Delarue, 24 Litchfield Street.
Technical Specifications
- Reference Number
- A1321
- Hallmarked London
- 1801
- Signed
- Recordon late Emery - London
- Dimensions
- Diameter 53 mm
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