260 - Daniel Quare - Alarm Watch

Daniel Quare - Alarm Watch A rare, single-handed London verge pocket watch with an alarm, made by one of the most eminent watchmakers of his time Dimensions: 48 mm, circa 1700, Weight: 149 g, Origin: England Case: Silver, rear bell, openwork on the sides, and richly decorated. Dial: Silver champlevé, central silver alarm disc. Movement: Full-plate movement, chain/fusee, engraved barrel for the alarm, 1 hammer, three-arm steel balance. Daniel Quare, one of the most eminent clockmakers, was born around 1648 in Somerset. He joined the Clockmakers’ Guild in 1671 and became a master in 1708. He died on March 21, 1724, in Croydon, Surrey. In addition to his legendary clocks and watches, Quare created various barometers and mathematical instruments and is credited with the invention of the rack striking mechanism. He came to the king’s attention in 1686, when Edward Barlow attempted to patent a repeating mechanism for watches, and Quare, with the support of the Clockmakers’ Company, challenged the patent, claiming he had been making repeaters since 1680. Repeating mechanisms were important in the era before easily accessible electric light, as they allowed one to tell the time in the dark. Barlow’s patent was denied, and the king, after testing Barlow’s and Quare’s watches side by side, expressed a preference for Quare’s. Quare clocks can be found in the royal collections at Buckingham Palace and Hampton Court, as well as in major museums and other private collections. Case: very good, slightly scuffed. Dial: very good. Movement: very good, in working order, needs cleaning.