J. De Charmes, London. A gilt metal key wind open face pocket watch with repeat and alarm

Circa 1700

Date: Circa 1700
Movement: Gilt full plate fusee verge, winged pierced and engraved balance cock, diamond end stone, silver regulation, two polished hammers striking on an internal bell
Dial: Gilt champlevé with signed central rotating disc for alarm, black Roman numerals, black outer minute divisions and Arabic numeral 5 minute markers, blued steel beetle and poker hands
Case: Heavy squared hinged with pierced sound frets, push repeat via stem
Signed: Dial, movement & dust cap
Size: 54mm
Accompaniments: Key

During the social and religious unrest towards the Huguenots in France preceding the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes in October 1685, a large number of Huguenot craftsmen emigrated to neighbouring sympathetic Protestant countries.

The coincidence of this timing suggests the De Charmes family may well have been one of the many Huguenot's seeking sanctuary in England at the end of the seventeenth century.