No.8492

Pocket watch in polychrome enamel on gold, pair case. Thirty hour duration, four pillar, gilt brass, quarter repeating fusee movement with verge escapement. Brass balance with blued-steel, flat spiral balance spring. Pierced and engraved balance bridge with polished steel cocquerette. Silver regulating disc engraved with the words 'AVANCE' and 'RETARD' - Fast/Slow. Potence plate engraved with the words 'Frs Wifs & Menu', 'A Geneve' and 'N8492' with an engraved scale and brass adjuster for altering the depthing of the last pinion in the repeating train, which is engraved with the letters 'V', 'L'. Polished steel mainspring set-up ratchet wheel and click. Quarter repeating consisting of two hammers striking on a single bell actuated by depressing the plunge pendant. (Double blows to indicate quarters). Bell screwed inside inner case back. Convex white enamel dial with vertical Roman hour numerals, dot minute markers and Arabic five minute numerals. Signed in the dial centre with the words 'Fres Wifs & Menu' and 'A. GENEVE'. Winding through the dial near 2. Pierced gold arrowhead hands. The pair case consists of a two colour inner gold case, the bezel set with thirty six, 4mm diameter, slightly misshapen split pearls. There is applied leaf decoration to the band and a polychrome enamel scene depicting a couple standing under a portico on the back of the case. Convex glass over dial. Outer gilt metal case with pierced rear bezel and convex glass back. Painted with dark red 'enamel' decoration to front and the rear bezels have gilt metal decoration. The watch has a 64cm long black silk ribbon with embroidered crowns in panels to each end. The watch is thought to have belonged to Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson (1758-1805).

Object Details

ID: JEW0244
Collection: Decorative art
Type: Watch
Display location: Display - ROG
Creator: Wiss & Menu
Places: Switzerland
Date made: circa 1810
People: Nelson, Horatio
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Measurements: Overall: 73 x 56 x 26 mm
Parts: No.8492