Swiss 18K Yellow Gold Quarter-Hour Repeating Pocket Watch

This impressive Swiss 18K yellow gold quarter-hour repeating pocket watch dates to the early 1800s and reflects the technical ingenuity and refined aesthetics of the era. While the porcelain chapter ring bears the name “Breguet,” it is understood to be erroneously signed, a not uncommon homage in the 19th century to the celebrated Parisian master whose innovations shaped the course of fine watchmaking.

The watch features a beautifully skeletonized dial that reveals the intricate movement beneath. Through the open center, a complex arrangement of gilt wheels, steel components, and finely cut gears can be admired in motion, offering a captivating view into the mechanical heart of the timepiece. Surrounding this display is an elegant white porcelain chapter ring with Arabic numerals and delicate minute markers, providing crisp legibility while framing the lively mechanical scene.

At its core is a traditional key-wind movement with chain fusee drive, a system designed to deliver consistent power to the escapement throughout the watch’s running cycle. The movement employs a crown wheel verge escapement, a hallmark of earlier high-grade watchmaking, prized for its durability and historical significance.

Adding further complexity is the quarter-hour repeating mechanism, activated by a plunger and striking the hours and quarter hours on two tuned gongs. This feature allowed the wearer to determine the time in dim light, producing a clear, resonant chime that speaks to the watch’s mechanical sophistication.

Restored and offered with a one-year warranty, this watch stands as both a remarkable mechanical instrument and a striking display of historic watchmaking craftsmanship.

60mm

Circa 1830