EARLY 19th CENTURY SWISS? FRENCH? SKELETONIZED WATCH WITH SILVER BALANCE COCK.

[steve burgamy]

Recently there was a post of a watch with a silver balance cock, I have had this piece in my collection for many years. The watch is signed "J M K No 1094" The "J" maybe a script "L, S, or F" sometimes it is very difficult to tell. The balance cock is silver and in the form of a coat of arms. The watch plates are skeletonized with vines and birds. The watch has a crown wheel escapement and the plate pillars are also heavily engraved. The case is silver with a faint stamp on the inside. In my opinion this is Swiss made, the watch is wound from the back. Has anyone seen anything similar? The silver coat of arms is a different touch to this interesting watch. Any information on the maker, origin or significance would be appreciated.

 

[MartyR]

Wonderfully intricate movement decoration, Steve

The device in the right half of the armorial looks to me like a Croix de Lorraine, which would obviously suggest a French aristocratic owner. Some years ago I came across an excellent website which dealt with French heraldry, and maybe you could find that and identify the armorial.

That. coupled with the general style of the piercing and pillar decoration would suggest a French maker rather than Swiss, but that's at best a fine distinction anyway. For what it's worth, I have scanned all the "K"s in Swiss Timepiece Makers looking for those initials without success, but the book covers the period from 1776 and your watch might predate that anyway.

 

[S.Humphrey]

The coat of Arms is from Hungary, apparently.
I recognized the double cross of Lorraine and googled it from there.
Nice watch.

http://www.historicaltextarchive.com/hungary/coats.html

 

[Omexa]

Hi, it was my movement with the Silver Balance Cock; I rather like your movement; I can't see a Fusee Chain in the photo, does it run? Regards Ray

 

[steve burgamy]

Hey Ray,
It runs well. The movement was completely run down. The fourth photo shows the chain on the mainspring barrel. The silver balance cock is a coat of arms from Hungary(shinytickythings) provided the information. I believe the movement is Swiss however with the Hungarian balance cock I wonder if it could be Austrian/Hungarian.

 

[MartyR]

I believe the movement is Swiss however with the Hungarian balance cock I wonder if it could be Austrian/Hungarian.

Steve, my assumption would be that this watch was specially made for a Hungraian aristocrat, not that the watchmaker was Hungarian!

 

[eric the bully]

English made?
regards enrico

 

[steve burgamy]

Enrico,
You are incredibly observant and you must be a watchmaker. I have had this watch for many years and it was passed down from my fathers collection. He always said this watch is English, the balance cock led me to believe otherwise. The bridge under the back plate( shown with your arrow) secures the crown wheel as in the English manner of construction. I have examined my Swiss/French watches and they are made differently. The regulator also is in English marked "s" and "f" and the watch is back wound like the English makes. The balance cock is what is puzzling to me, maybe was made in this shape to conceal the regulator and give the watchmaker more area to skeletonize the plates. Thanks for your input.....Steve

 

[Omexa]

The balance cock is what is puzzling to me, maybe was made in this shape", maybe because the Shield is round? Regards Ray

 

[gmorse]

Hi Steve,

The back pottance for the crown wheel certainly doesn't look like French or Swiss work, which appears at first sight to contradict the balance bridge with two screws, but this style isn't unknown in English watches. However, the pillars don't look at all English . . .

Regards,

Graham