Watch

Pocket watch with alarm in silver case. Thirty hour duration, gilt brass, four pillar, capped fusee movement with verge escapement. Alarm train with standing barrel. Brass balance with flat spiral balance spring. Pierced and engraved balance bridge with polished steel cocquerette. Silver regulating disc engraved with 'AVANCE' and 'RETARD' - Fast/Slow. Potence plate engraved with the name 'Godemar Freres et Capt.'. Underside of pillar plate stamped 'JAPY'. Scratched inside sprung gilt metal cap is the letter 'X'. Convex white enamel dial with Arabic hour numerals and five minute marks. Winding through dial above 6, with polished steel collar. Alarm winding through dial below 12. Blued-steel moon hour hand, blued-steel alarm hand with moon counterbalance. Open face silver case with reeded band. Pierced dome engraved within a floral border and the words 'From Emma Lyon Hamilton, Calais France. To my dear friend George Brummell Caen France. IN EXILE AND ADVERSITY'. Scratched inside is 'EQ90'. Dome fitted with an alarm bell, scratched 'EQ90' and 'G F'. Stamped incuse inside case back with '47' and '2018'. Scratched with '2582', '705', '43', '8' and 'G'. The watch comes complete with a silver chain and two watch keys. The chain is 400mm long and 5.8mm in diameter and is made from white metal belcher links (probably silver) with a sprung bolt catch, steel split ring and two base metal and steel watch keys. The inscription on the watch which relates to Emma, Lady Hamilton (circa 1761-1815) is thought to be dubious.

Object Details

ID: JEW0217
Collection: Decorative art
Type: Watch
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Godemars Freres et Capt.
Places: France; Caen Calais
Date made: circa 1810
People: Hamilton, Emma; Brummell, George Bryan
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Measurements: Watch: 76 x 55 x 22 mm; Watch Chain: 400 x 5.8 mm
Parts: Watch