17th-Century English Watch

Description

The Museum’s dapper watch is adapted from one of master clockmaker Thomas Tompion’s (English, 1639–1713) classic timepieces. Tompion was one of the most successful watchmakers in Europe during his lifetime, with customers such as King William III of England and Cosimo III, Duke of Tuscany. The Museum’s collection includes an extraordinary pair-case watch (1682–83) with a movement by Tompion and an inner case and dial by Nathaniel Delander (English, recorded 1668/9, d. probably before 1697). Delander, one of Tompion’s preferred casemakers, contributed to the watch’s beauty with his fine engraving and matte gold on the dial.

18K gold overlay case. Black croco-patterned leather band. Quartz movement. Case: 1 1/2''W. Band: adjusts from 6 1/2''L to 8''L.

Art History

Thomas Tompion (English, 1639–1713) was the best known English clockmaker of his day. The original timepiece indicates the hours in Roman numerals and the minutes in Arabic numerals on its chapter ring, with separate, concentrically mounted hands for the hours and minutes, and a separate chapter ring with its own hand for seconds. It also boasts a remarkably early stop mechanism that can be activated to measure short intervals of time.