Important Watches: Part I
Important Watches: Part I
Henry Godfrey
An unusual silver pair cased verge watch with early balance spring and 6 hour dial | Circa 1685 | Henry Godfrey | 銀製懷錶，備早期擺輪游絲及6小時錶盤，製作年份約1685
Auction Closed
May 14, 11:30 AM GMT
Estimate
15,000 - 25,000 CHF
Lot Details
Description
Henry Godfrey
An unusual silver pair cased verge watch with early balance spring and 6 hour dial
Circa 1685
Henry Godfrey
銀製懷錶，備早期擺輪游絲及6小時錶盤，製作年份約1685
Movement: gilded full plate, verge escapement, decoratively pierced and floral engraved balance cock, flat three-arm balance with spring, fusee & chain, elaborate pillars, signed and numbered H. Godfrey, London
Dial: silver champlevé, stippled ground, Roman numerals for hours 1 to 6 each additionally calibrated with Arabic numerals to their centres for hours 7 to 12, outer ring with Arabic numerals for 10 minute indication, dial centre with chased and engraved floral pattern, blued steel tulip hand
Cases: silver plain inner, winding aperture to back, pendant and bow, with makers mark RB incuse, silver plain outer, square joint
50 mm diameter
There are several reasons for which this watch, by Henry Godfrey, stands out among others of the same period. Most strikingly is its 6 hour dial with single hand. While watches had appeared before 1680 with both hour and minute indication the evolution was not commonplace initially. This was largely due to the fact that, prior to the introduction of the balance spring, and although watchmakers foresaw the advantages, watches at the time were not accurate enough to warrant an additional minute hand. The present watch while using only one hand does utilise a balance spring. As such the divisions of time to the outer track of its silver champlevé dial can be calibrated to 2 minutes providing more accurate telling of the time. The hand revolves once every 6 hours, and the numerals display 1-6 in Roman numerals, over which are super imposed Arabic numerals indicating the hours of 7-12.
The present watch offers a rare insight into a significant- and fascinating transitional period of horological history. Henry Godfrey was a freeman of the Clockmakers company from 1685 to 1707.