German rare gilt quarter repeating verge watch Circa 1720

Gilt brass open faced key wind verge watch
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A fine and rare German gilt brass open faced striking and repeating verge clock watch with bell made by Joseph Geymüller in Groß-Glogau (Silesia), circa 1720. This highly complicated timepiece features a mechanical key winding fire gilt brass full plate movement with a verge escapement, a chain fusee system, unusual stylized pillars, an intricately engraved barrel, and a beautifully pierced and engraved balance cock signed Joseph Geymüller. The movement includes an integrated hour self strike mechanism and a quarter hour repeater that strikes on a bottom mounted steel bell, triggered by pressing the winding pendant.
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The silver champlevé dial features an engraved central medallion decorated with baroque floral scrolls and foliage. It displays bold Roman numerals for the hours set against a darkened background for high contrast, an interim track with delicate cross shaped half hour markers, and is complemented by its original fine blued iron hands. The timepiece is housed in a substantial, round, two body, gold plated brass open faced case that is elaborately pierced and engraved with floral scrollwork to allow the bell’s sound to resonate clearly. It features a sturdy round suspension bow and pendant.
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Diameter: 55 mm
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Weight: 160 g
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Signed: Joseph Geymüller Groß-Glogau
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During the early 18th century, clock watches with both an automatic hour selfstrike and an on demand quarter hour repetition mechanism represented the pinnacle of technical horology. Crafted in Silesia around 1720, this rare timepiece showcases the region’s sophisticated craftsmanship, combining an intricate fire gilt movement with a beautifully executed silver champlevé dial. To allow the acoustic strike of the internal bottom bell to be heard, the heavy gilt brass case was pierced and engraved by hand. Such highly complicated luxury objects were exceptionally expensive status symbols, owned exclusively by wealthy merchants and European nobility who relied on repeating mechanisms to tell time in darkness.