Accession No

1300

Brief Description

complicated astronomical pocket watch, by Louis-Benjamin Audemars, Swiss, 1878 (c)

Origin

Switzerland

Maker

Louis-Benjamin Audemars

Class

mechanical horology

Earliest Date

1873

Latest Date

1878

Inscription Date

Material

metal (gold, steel, brass); glass; ceramic; cloth (velvet)

Dimensions

diameter 56mm; length 83mm; case length 120mm; breadth 85mm

Special Collection

Provenance

Inscription

[face]
‘Ls.. Audemars
BRASSUS & GENÈVE’

[on plate covering clock mechanism inside watch]
No. 12200
L. Audemars
BRASSUS & GENEVE
- S -

[engraved on inside of back plate]
This chronometer from the collection of the Rev. William Bentinck Hawkins was on his death in 1894 , Francis Bissett Hawkins Esq, M.A., M.D., F.R.C.P., F.R.S., to Charles Theodore Williams Esq, M.V.O., M.A., M.D., F.R.C.P. The last named, who was the friend and sole executer of the said Re. W.B. Hawkins, was born August 29, 1838 and died Dec. 15 1912, bequeathing this chronometer by his will to his friend Percival Horton-Smith Hartley, Esq.C.V.O, M.A., M.D., F.R.C.P.

Description Notes

Complicated astronomical pocket watch, by Audemars, Swiss, c. 1878.

Heavy 18K gold open face pocket watch No. 12200, enamel dial with Roman and Arabic numerals. signed “L. Audemars, Brassus & Geneve”. Counterpoised lever escapement, compensate balance with gold screws, helical balance spring, gilded movement with two independent wheel train, three spring barrels with maintaining power.
The watch has the following complications:
-Grande sonnerie clock watch (strike the hours and quarters in passing)
-Minute repeating (on demand)
-Two time of day dial
-Lunar phase and age
-Perpetual calendar: days, date, year and leap year display
-Split seconds chronograph
-Small seconds hand with jumping 1/5 seconds hand from the same axis
-Thermometer (Réaumur)

Velvet carrying case (very worn).

[engraved on inside of back plate]
This chronometer from the collection of the Rev. William Bentinck Hawkins was on his death in 1894 , Francis Bissett Hawkins Esq, M.A., M.D., F.R.C.P., F.R.S., to Charles Theodore Williams Esq, M.V.O., M.A., M.D., F.R.C.P. The last named, who was the friend and sole executer of the said Re. W.B. Hawkins, was born August 29, 1838 and died Dec. 15 1912, bequeathing this chronometer by his will to his friend Percival Horton-Smith Hartley, Esq.C.V.O, M.A., M.D., F.R.C.P.

Condition good (one of the hands is bent); complete.

References

Events