A circular quarter-repeating pocket watch in a gold, engine-turned case with flattened sides, decorated with a ribbed design; the back with radiating design centering on a crowned GR monogram. White enamel dial, Arabic numerals and moon hands.

Like many other objects in the Cambridge collection this watch had formerly belonged to George III. The restrained simplicity of its design is in marked contrast to the heavily jewelled and enamelled watches given by the King as presentation gifts. It incorporates a quarter-repeating mechanism, which strikes the last hour and divisions of the hour. This was a particularly useful function at night, at a time when illumination was not always readily available.

The movement is signed by the Swiss-born clock and watchmaker Louis Recordon whose first workshop was established in Greek Street, Soho. In 1805 Recordon took over the workshop of the eminent Swiss watchmaker Josiah Emery, the first watchmaker to use the lever escapement after Thomas Mudge.

Recordon is chiefly famous for his patent for a pedometer for winding watches in 1780. This was the world’s first self-winding watch mechanism and the forerunner of modern self-winding watch mechanisms. He also acted as the London agent for the Parisian maker Abraham-Louis Breguet, the leading continental horologist of the time. This watch incorporates both French and English elements, a common practice at that time. Recordon would have imported certain components, assembling the finished watch in his workshop.

Struck with hallmarks for London, 1802-3 and maker’s mark of Louis Comtesse, case and movement engraved with serial numbers; engraved inside case This watch / was made in 1802 / and belonged to / King George III / To George, Duke of York on his marriage from his affectionate Uncle George, Duke of Cambridge, July 6th 1893

Catalogue entry adapted from George III & Queen Charlotte: Patronage, Collecting and Court Taste, London, 2004