Antique clocks and watches

Subcategories

• 

  Antique Mantel Clocks

  An attractively designed and well-functioning table or table clock is usually the focus of all eyes. If it is also an antique and original vintage item, then it will also become one of the most appreciated pieces by its owners. Antique table clocks have been decorating spaces for centuries; millions of homes around the world have some model that measures time with silent patience.

  
  Brief history of antique table clocks or table clocks.

  
  The origin of table clocks (also known as antique table clocks) is somewhat fuzzy, but can be established around the 14th century. The clock mechanisms of the time were oversized and ran huge designs located in cathedrals, churches and public buildings. When the dimensions of the mechanisms were reduced by replacing the weights with a spring system, clocks moved into the domestic sphere in the form of table, wall or floor models. From that time on, table clocks were manufactured with different types of mechanisms, although they all worked on the same principle: a spring motor transmitting the movement to gears, controlled and regulated by a mechanism (pendulum, weights, escapement, etc.). The gears turn the hands at a set rate.

  
  Types of antique table clocks

  
  Table clocks or antique mantel clocks can be classified into different groups. We can group them according to their mechanism, their design, their style, the materials they are made of... Among the most popular and attractive ones are the following:

  
  Table clocks with Paris movements Also known as "Pendule du Paris" or "Clock of Paris" (in France and Great Britain), this mechanism does not actually correspond to a defined typology. The name "Pendules du Paris" refers rather to the place of manufacture and/or the Parisian style than to a specific mechanism. They are usually compact, round-shaped machines, designed for small cases (such as those of table clocks). They usually include hour and half-hour chimes on a bell or gong. Paris machineries are generally found in high quality sculptural clocks, made of marble, gilt bronze, etc.

  
  Pendulum table clocks. . The invention of the pendulum mechanism is due to the Italian physicist and astronomer Galileo Galilei, who described it in a writing in the 15th century. Later, Christian Huygens built the first pendulum clock. Antique table clocks with pendulum are usually tall, slender designs to accommodate the pendulum element, which is often seen at the bottom through a glass panel.

  
  Sculptural table clocks. . They are magnificent period designs whose case appears decorated with stylized bronze, calamine or porcelain figures. They were very popular in the 18th and 19th centuries, especially in France. The figures usually represent gallant or mythological scenes characteristic of Romanticism. The clock mechanism was hidden in a case that served as a pedestal for the sculptures, while the dial was displayed either on the front of the case or as part of the sculptural ensemble.

  
  Table clocks made of marble, wood and gilded bronze. The use of noble and valuable materials to make table clock boxes made these objects authentic works of craftsmanship, which to this day still maintain their great beauty and attractiveness. Wooden boxes are probably the most common, using noble species such as mahogany or ebony in the manufacture of magnificent designs. Marble was widely used in the 30s of the twentieth century to manufacture beautiful art deco style table clocks. Gilded bronze (ormolu) was widely used in the manufacture of wonderful antique table clocks during the 19th century. Empire style, combined with ebony, with sculptural figures or with marble pedestals, these clocks stand out for their elegance, their luminosity and their complicated designs.

  
  Collecting antique table clocks is an exciting hobby, which can also be an excellent investment. Watching them in good working order and enjoying their timeless beauty on a sideboard, mantelpiece or large dining table is a real pleasure.

• 

  Antique Wall Clocks

  If all antique clocks deserve a place in the best collections, antique wall clocks stand out for their beauty and decorative potential. They are more functional than grandfather clocks, because hanging on the wall they do not take up space; moreover, their medium size allows them to be placed in virtually any corner. Antique wall clocks are designed to stand out in living rooms or entryways because of their wonderful designs and good sound. These devices are manually wound, that is, they work when the mechanism is wound or the weights are activated.

  
  The wall clocks can be grouped by typologies, divided based on the material with which the case is made, the time and style, the mechanism, the chime ... The first wall clocks date from the invention of the pendulum machinery. The description of this system is attributed to Galileo Galilei, who wrote about it in the 19th century. However, it was Christian Huygens who built the first mechanism. The first antique pendulum clocks were large and were placed in emblematic buildings; the reduction of the size of the machinery allowed the creation of the first wall clocks, floor clocks and table clocks.

  
  Special mention should be made of the antique wall clocks made in the Black Forest (Germany). The earliest are believed to date back to the 17th century: their dial had a single hand marking the hours. The dark wooden cases, obtained from the region's forests, were often decorated with hand-carved carvings depicting leaves, branches, acorns and other plant motifs. This design evolved, as did the mechanisms: as early as the 18th century, the first cuckoo clocks appeared, famous designs in the form of a hut with an automaton bird that strikes the hours from the upper window. The cuckoo clock business generated great wealth in the Black Forest, giving work to all kinds of craftsmen: watchmakers, carvers, cabinetmakers, painters, turners...

  
  Types of antique wall clocks

  
  Antique pendulum clocks. These are the most popular wall clocks, along with weight clocks. There are models that incorporate both systems. The cases used to be made of wood, usually with noble species such as mahogany, walnut or ebony. They have a front door with glass through which the pendulum can be seen. There are magnificent French, English and German models (especially from the Black Forest region), some of which include beautiful brass or bronze pendulums with hand-made reliefs. For the clock to work the pendulum must be in motion; if we want to stop the clock, it will be enough to immobilize this piece.

  
  Antique wall clocks with Vienna type machinery. . Under this name are known wall clocks with weight mechanism. The weights hang from chains that connect them to the machinery. One of the weights operates the clock, while the other starts the hour and half-hour chime. When such a watch has three weights, the third one activates the quarter chime: this mechanism is known as the carillon.

  
  Antique wall clocks type "porthole". . This name corresponds to the classic French and Spanish oval-shaped clocks, consisting of a large round dial surrounded by a case with marquetry and turned. They are typical of the late 19th and early 20th century. Sometimes, the dial includes precious marquetry and inlaid details made of tortoise shell, mother-of-pearl, ebony...

  
  Antique wall clocks with complications. With the name of complications are known devices that can include a clock, apart from the dial with hours and minutes. There are wall clocks with second hand, moon phases, calendar and even complementary devices, such as barometers and thermometers.

  
  Antique wall clocks type "mouse trap". . The name of these clocks comes from their resemblance to the mousetraps that were built when they began to be manufactured, in the mid-18th century. They originate from the German Black Forest, specifically from the Furtwagen region. Their German name is. Lackschild uhr (lack schild means "shield with paint", and uhr, clock). They consist of a square plate of lacquered wood, usually surmounted by an arch at the top. Behind the plate is hidden the mechanism, from which hang the pendulum and weights. The lacquered wood used to be delicately decorated with decals of gallant images and Roman numerals.

  
  All these antique wall clocks are part of a universe full of charm, magic and evocative power. Collecting them can be the most passionate hobby, which will lead us to discover real gems of mechanics and decorative arts.

• 

  Antique Grandfather Clocks

  Within the field of collecting, antique grandfather clocks deserve a section of their own for their beauty and spectacularity. Their imposing presence means that today they continue to be appreciated and used in decoration, where they shine in classic style environments and stand out as exclusive pieces in eclectic and contemporary interiors. In the early days, grandfather clocks were only available to the upper classes due to their high cost. In addition, their large size was only suitable for large rooms and high ceilings (some reach 2.40 meters in height). Nowadays, antique grandfather clocks are very valuable items made with fine woods and high precision mechanisms, reaching very high prices in stores and auctions.

  
  Antique anteroom clocks are similar to grandfather clocks, but larger and with more sonorous mechanisms. Their name is due to the fact that they used to be placed in the entrance or anteroom of the houses to be able to hear the time from any space of the house. We also know these clocks as "grandfather clocks" old, a name that has its origin in the North America of the late nineteenth century.

  
  History of antique grandfather clocks

  
  Like that of all mechanical clocks, the history of grandfather or anteroom clocks dates back to the 17th century, when Galileo Galilei set about investigating the possibilities of pendulum motion for measuring time. His studies were put into practice by Christian Huygens, who manufactured the first known pendulum clock. Gradually the mechanism became more compact and smaller, until it gave rise to the first wall clocks. In 1658, the British Robert Hooke developed the first anchor escapement, which replaced the catalan escapement used until then. This mechanism allowed a shorter pendulum movement, which made it possible to manufacture narrower cases for wall clocks.

  
  Hooke's discovery was seized upon by the English clockmaker William Clement, who in 1670 built the first grandfather clock on record. The clock was fitted with the royal pendulum (or pendulum seconds) mechanism created by Clement himself, with a margin of error of only 10 seconds a day. The clock was over 2.10 meters high and had glass panels on the front to show the pendulum and weights. Within a few years, Thomas Tompion (a very famous English watchmaker considered the father of British watchmaking) also began making grandfather clocks.

  
  The name "grandfather clock" has its origins in a curious anecdote. In 1875, the American singer and songwriter Henry Clay Work made the tune "The Grandfather Clock"("The Grandfather Clock"), in which he told the story of a grandfather clock, very popular. The song's fame crossed borders and led to grandfather clocks, since then, also receiving the name Grandfather or "grandfather".

  
  Antique grandfather clocks: materials

  
  The antique grandfather clocks stand out for the high quality of the materials with which they are made. The cases are usually made of solid wood, usually noble species such as walnut, mahogany, cherry or even ebony. The front face has glass panels to show the dial, pendulum and weights. Many of these clocks are decorated with marquetry or inlaid details and hand-carved pieces in different styles (depending on the period and fashion). There are also models inlaid with brass or gilt bronze, and even with details decorated with gold leaf.

  
  As imposing as they are elegant, antique grandfather clocks stand out in every space because of their designs and scale. They are pieces of enormous interest, both for collectors and for lovers of decoration and quality craftsmanship.

• 

  Antique Pocket Watches

  Antique pocket watches make up an exciting universe that includes authentic jewels made of precious materials, but also simple models full of charm and authenticity. In the days when wristwatches were still unknown, pocket watches were an indispensable accessory for measuring time. They were also elegant accessories that gave a glimpse of the social class and style of the wearer. Today, the fascination with antique pocket watches continues to live on: literary and aesthetic subgenres such as steampunk. which bases its imagery on the clocks, gears and mechanical contraptions of Victorian England and Jules Verne's France, have revived interest in these wonderful items. On the other hand, for any watch collector the pocket watch models arouse a very special interest, being highly sought after among experts.

  
  History of antique pocket watches
  
  

  The origins of the pocket watch can be traced back to the 15th century. They were then known as "portable watches" and their construction was made possible after the invention of the spring mechanism (coil spring). They were originally cylindrical or ovoid in shape, like the famous "Nuremberg eggs": slightly elongated spherical clocks, designed by the watchmaker Peter Heinlen in the 16th century in the city that gives them their name. During the 16th and 17th centuries, pocket watches were made in curious and whimsical shapes: animals, skulls, crosses... However, their mechanisms were not very precise. Moreover, they were luxury items intended only for the wealthy classes.

  
  In the 18th century manufacturing was becoming cheaper and pocket watches became more affordable. As Adam Smith points out in his book The Wealth of Nations,at this time "a pocket watch which [...] could be purchased for twenty pounds, can now be purchased for twenty shillings". Already in the nineteenth century, the figure of the American Aaron L. Dennison is revealed as fundamental, to achieve mass production of such items through the company he founded in 1850 with Edward Howard. This company would later be known as the Waltham Watch Co, a pioneering firm and one of the leaders in the sector. After World War I, wristwatches began to replace pocket watches; however, to this day these models are still manufactured because of the enormous attraction they arouse.

  
  Types of antique pocket watches
  
  

  Among the many antique pocket watches that have survived to our days we find models with gold, silver, platinum, nielloed silver, silver-plated or gilded metal cases... There are also simple designs with plain covers and watches with elaborate decorations, engraved or inlaid. The watch case may have two, three or even four covers; some models include a dust cover that protects the mechanism, hidden behind the back cover. Antique silver and gold pocket watches usually have contrasts and marks that provide information about the country of manufacture, the goldsmith or silversmith, the weight of the silver or the karat of the gold. Gold or silver-plated pieces used to be marked with the word METAL.

  
  High complication pocket watches. Unlike watches with simple mechanism, high complication watches include calendars, moon phase indicators, stopwatches and other devices along with the classic dial and seconds hand. They are high-quality models, highly appreciated among experts.

  
  Antique pocket watches saboneta. The name derives from a French word meaning "little soap". These are the classic pocket watches with a front cover, which protects and covers the glass cover of the dial. To look at the time you have to press a button that opens the cover.

  
  Antique pocket watches lepine. Unlike the saboneta watches, the lepine ones do not have a front cover. The dial is protected only by the glass panel. They are named after the French watchmaker Jean-Antoine Lepine, who in the 18th century created a special mechanism that made it possible to manufacture much flatter pocket watches.

  
  Antique "miner's" pocket watches. In these watches the dial appears divided into 24 hours, which allows you to know what time it is and whether it is day or night. Also called "24-hour clocks", the name miner's comes from the work they do in the dark, where it is impossible to know whether it is day or night.

  
  Antique pocket watches unfold hundreds of possibilities for the collector of special pieces. To start a collection is to step into an exciting adventure, where beauty goes hand in hand with precision and mechanical engineering.

• 

  Antique Wristwatches

  In the field of watchmaking, antique wristwatches combine the typical functionality of watchmaking mechanisms with the aesthetics of jewelry. With sober or subtly baroque designs; made of luxury materials or simple metals; with a dial to tell the time or with all kinds of complications (moon phases, chronometers...), they constitute magnificent complements destined to shine on the wrists of men and women. Wristwatches are a relatively recent invention, which in its day replaced the ubiquitous pocket watches. Today they continue to evolve and there are even space watches that operate at 0 gravity or models for divers that operate at depths of more than 100 meters.

  
  Brief history of wristwatches.

  
  The first portable watches date from the fifteenth century and were models attached to chains, intended to be carried in the pocket clipped to clothing. They had cylindrical or ovoid shapes and were only available to the wealthier classes. The first known wristwatch was built by the famous French watchmaker Abraham Louis Breguet in 1812 as a gift for Caroline, Queen of Naples and sister of Napoleon Bonaparte. However, it was not until the beginning of the 20th century that wristwatches began to become popular. During World War I, airline pilots needed a practical, small watch that could be worn for quick checks. The famous aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont asked his friend Louis Cartier to build him such a watch to wear on his wrist. Thus was born the famous Cartier-Santos watch, one of the first men's wristwatch models to appear on the market.

  
  From this contest, wristwatches definitively ousted the pocket watches and began to be manufactured in all kinds of designs, materials and prices. The first automatic model that combined the winding mechanism with an inertia pendulum appeared in 1923, invented by John Harwood. Subsequently, the Rolex firm designed an automatic watch with a unilateral winding rotor that would later be imitated in all automatic watches, including those of today. In 1967 the first electronic watch with quartz engine was presented in Switzerland, pioneer of all the models that would come later and that today dominate the market for these items.

  
  Vintage wristwatches: reference brands.

  
  Vintage wristwatches were manufactured by all kinds of companies, from the most humble to the big firms. Nowadays, the most valued luxury wristwatches are signed by brands such as Rolex, Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, Tag Heuer, Audemars Piguet, Chopard, Piaget.... On the other hand, some of the most important Swiss firms that contributed the most evolution to wristwatches (such as Omega or Longines, among others) continue to launch new models and take on new challenges in the 21st century.

  
  Types of antique wristwatches

  
  Vintage wristwatches can be classified according to styles, brands, materials, designs.... But perhaps the most accurate and practical classification is according to their operation. Depending on the type of mechanism, we can group them into two types:

  
  Manual wristwatches . They are the pioneer designs, very popular until the 50s of the twentieth century. They have a side crown that allows winding the engine. Turning it tightens an internal spring that operates the gears, allowing the movement of the hands regulated by an escapement mechanism.

  
  Automatic wristwatches . The automatic mechanism was invented in the early 1920s, but did not become popular until decades later. In addition to the manual winding system, they incorporate an autonomous mechanism with a pendulum that is set in motion by the movement of the arm. This allows the watch to run much longer (as long as it is in use). When the watch is not in use, it must be wound manually to start it.

  
  Collecting antique or luxury wristwatches is something that fills their owners with satisfaction. From the magnificent designs of the big brands to the functional and practical antique models, these objects are a milestone in the history of industrial design.