Henry Capt

An ornamental eight-day duration quarter repeating Geneva carriage clock with alarm and "Grande Sonnerie"

Sold

estimated

2.500—3.500 €

Price realized

4.700 €

specific features

Case

Gilt bronze, "Anglaise" case, moulded base and cornice with dentil pattern, facetted glass panels on all sides, handle with fluted middle part, button for repeating mechanism, lever for choosing between "Hours and Quarters, Quarters Only and Silent" in the bottom.

Dial

Enamel, eccentric hour indicator with Roman numerals, subsidiary chapter ring with Arabic numerals for alarm, blued Breguet hands.

Movement

Rectangular brass full plate movement, punch mark "AM" (François Arsène Margaine, Rue Beranger 22 und Rue Bondy 54, Paris), keywind, 3 hammers / 2 gongs, solid circular movement pillars, 3 barrels for going train, striking train and alarm, platform with English lever escapement, gold screw compensation balance.

Diam.175 mm

Circa1880

Ctry.Swiss/France

The house of Henry Capt was founded in Geneva in 1822 and flourished for many decades. Established by the famed Henri-Daniel Capt, the firm was taken over by his son, Henri Capt, in 1844. A shop was opened on the Rue du Rhône in 1855 which became quickly famous. During the 1870s, the Henry Capt company advertised that they were the only Geneva watch manufacturer to have a branch retail house in London. Branches were also established in Paris, Nice and New York.
Francois Arsène Margaine was a well-known maker of travel clock with several branches in Paris.
Margaine won a silver medal during the World Exhibition in Paris in 1889 and a gold medal in 1900. Together with Paul Garnier Francois Arsène he is considered one of the best makers of travel clocks and Belle Epoque-style "pendule d'officiers" in Paris. Pawel Buhré in Russia sold travel clocks made by Margaine under his own name; the brand logo was a beehive with the initials AM.
Source: www.watch-wiki.org.