Any hinfo. with this antique pocket watch....

[Courtney]

I don't know much at all about watches or this one in particular. I will tell you ALL I know and any help, advice or knowledge of this watch would be much appreciated. We are trying to find out where it originated and its estimated value.
All info I have is from my father...
-repaired in 1920 and marked
-Charles Heart...design?
-Grosc David E...company?
-french made.....maybe?
-may be traced to McCormick family and/or court of England.

Sorry thats all I know and I don't know how reliable any of that info really is.

Thanks for all your help...hopefully pictures will help you more..please take a look by copying and pasting this link into your browser. IF the pics are too small to see email me at frggystyln2002@yahoo.com and I'll email them to you. Heres the link:

http://360.yahoo.com/frggystyln2002

[Courtney]

I don't know much at all about watches or this one in particular. I will tell you ALL I know and any help, advice or knowledge of this watch would be much appreciated. We are trying to find out where it originated and its estimated value.
All info I have is from my father...
-repaired in 1920 and marked
-Charles Heart...design?
-Grosc David E...company?
-french made.....maybe?
-may be traced to McCormick family and/or court of England.

Sorry thats all I know and I don't know how reliable any of that info really is.

Thanks for all your help...hopefully pictures will help you more..please take a look by copying and pasting this link into your browser. IF the pics are too small to see email me at frggystyln2002@yahoo.com and I'll email them to you. Heres the link:

http://360.yahoo.com/frggystyln2002

[Mikrolisk]

This seems to be an english pocket watch, the style of it is typical for England. The dial is silver with golden letters and ornaments.
To date this watch you must tell us the hallmarks in the dust cover, you will find there first a city sign and a letter. Depending of the city mark you can determine the year of the watch with the letter, just visit http://www.925-1000.com/british_marks.html .

The value cannot be said, it depends on where you will sell it (ebay or on antique markets), the state of the watch (is it running? is the case ok?) and much more. I would recommend you to keep the watch, it won't loose its worth!

Regards, Andreas

[Courtney]

Thanks..I went to the site and talked to my dad (I only have pictures) the crest seems to be the thistle and the letters near it are MCR (the curly ones I think)If I read the chart right its somewhere between 1730-1746...but I don't know if I did that right since it starts with M and that is 1741...then the C is 1732 then the R is 1746? It does still work and is in very good condition. The name C.H Groseaude and grosc and Fluirier are present on different areas of the watch. also there are different numbers such as K18 and 63077 and more. Any more info to help in identifying this watch is much appreciated. Thanks..very interesting

[Mikrolisk]

Well I expected something like that:

http://www.mikrolisk.de/content/horologium.hallmarks/hallmarks.jpg

Here you see the "Three Sheaves of Corn" what stands for the city Chester, the "L" could be 1711, 1829 or 1894. The lion above is the silver mark.

Cheers, Andreas

[Frank Menez]

A close look at my Guide to British HM indicated the following

HM 1711 Figure of Britannia No lion Passant

HM 1829 Date letter in a box shield

HM 1894 Lion Passant Date letter in a shield as shown on your watch

I believe the Hall Marks indicate a date of 1894

PS If I am wrong please do not hesitate to correct me

[Courtney]

I'm sorry I am kinda confused and don't understand what you are trying to explain...I guess I need to learn a bit more?!?

[Jeff Hess]

The date is determined by the font of the letter AND the cartouche behind it.

Jeff Hess

[Glyn Meredith]

I'm sure that Frank is correct - Chester, 1894.

The date font and letter, the shape of the Chester 'three wheatsheaves and sword' shield and the shield for the lion passant Sterling mark are all indicators for this. You cannot rely on the shape of the oblong cartouche for the date letter, since there is little difference between 1807, 1829 and 1894.

[Mikrolisk]

For your information: You are all right, this little hallmark picture was from a pocket watch of 1894...
If someone wants to see the whole watch:
- Front (http://www.mikrolisk.de/content/horologium.fotos/burdess_front1.jpg)
- Back (http://www.mikrolisk.de/content/horologium.fotos/burdess_back1.jpg)
- Movement (http://www.mikrolisk.de/content/horologium.fotos/burdess_werk4.jpg)
English lever pocket watch with chain/fusee, made by Adam Burdess from Coventry, hallmarks for Chester 1894


But back to Courtney: Do you see similar hallmarks on your watch (inside the back dust cover?

Regards, Andreas

[Courtney]

I believe the only hallmark is the thistle with the letters MCR intertwining with it. I will know more soon becuase I will physically have the watch to better research it.

[Mikrolisk]

In this case the watch is not from England. What letters are on the regulator index (on the balance cock)? If there are a 'S' and 'F' (slower/faster) or a 'A' and 'R' (then it could be a french or swiss watch)?
This "MCR" is either a watchmakers mark or an abbreviation of the company.

Regards, Andreas

[Courtney]

heres a new link for 6 pics of the watch
http://www.snapfish.com/slideshow/AlbumID=27327183/Pict...57316689/t_=31016288 (http://www.snapfish.com/slideshow/AlbumID=27327183/PictureID=757316689/t_=31016288)

[Courtney]

Is there a link I can go to to identify these different parts to know where to look for marks?

[Mikrolisk]

I got an error if I click your snapfish-link. "The page you requested doesn't exist..."

Andreas

[Courtney]

Sorry...try this one
http://courtney-webster.magix.net/

[Courtney]

then click on watch on the left part of the screen.

[Mikrolisk]

Can you tell me what text that is:

http://img368.imageshack.us/img368/2946/watch8ya.jpg

I read there something like "Ch. H. ????stands" or am I wrong?

Thank you,
Andreas

[Courtney]

It says Ch. H. Grosdaude (the last e could be an "s")

[Mikrolisk]

So far I am sure that this watch is from France or Swiss. Thus I would date this watch between 1855 to 1890.
Alas I can't find anything about this "Grosdaude" (or Grosdauds). :frown:

Andreas

[Courtney]

The name Flurier also appears on the watch?!?

[Tom McIntyre]

The watch is signed Grosclaude. It was likely made as an ebauche by Audemars & Co. and finished by or for Grosclaude.

Here is another interesting Grosclaude from the same general period.

Fleurier is a place, so the watch claims to be made by Grosclaude in Fleurier.

http://www.awco.org/MWCo/YoungCharles/Movement_small.jpg (http://www.awco.org/MWCo/YoungCharles/Movement.jpg)

Click on the picture to make it larger.

[Mikrolisk]

or more detailed:

Charles Henri Louis Grosclaude (1783 - 1806)


Andreas

[Courtney]

Oh..so its Grosclaude not Grosdaude. What is a ebauche? Where is Fleurier? Thanks for your comments, all the people on this board are so knowledgeable and I'm learning a whole lot it is very interesting!

Thanks for the full name and dates!

[Tom McIntyre]

An ebauche is a partially finished watch Ebauches can be delivered at any level of completeness desired depending on how much additional work the purchaser wants to perform or have done in a custom fashion.

If you search using google for fleurier switzerland you will find lots of information and maps. Fleurier commune (Neuchâtel canton, Switzerland)

[rrwatch]

Another Grosclaude watch. This example is a spring detent chronometer.

http://photos26.flickr.com/35595293_04d15e9181_m.jpg

http://photos28.flickr.com/35595294_1a4445b83f_m.jpg



http://photos23.flickr.com/35595295_5e6c993f8e_m.jpg