Daniel Quare Pocket Watch

Most any conversation about the greatest early English makers such as Thomas Tompion, Joseph Windmills, and Henry Jones includes Daniel Quare, an inventor of a number of important watch innovations. This watch was part of Doug Cowan’s collection. Mr. Cowan is a past Chairman of the NAWCC and National Watch & Clock Museum. It is an example of Quare’s best quality work. 

Circa 1700 gilt-brass verge and fusee movement signed D. Quare London with inward facing script, number 2680. Intricate balance table with long streamers depicting foliage with narrow neck depicting a shell. Silver regulator. Four Egyptian pillars and decorative fusee stop-work foot.

Daniel Quare
Daniel Quare Pocket Watch
Early Pocket Watch
Quare Watch

Silver, intricate champlevé dial signed Quare. Fine hands and early crystal. Split bezel. Inner case has 7-knuckle hinge, outer has a 5-knuckle hinge. Double struck makers’ mark likely “IR” with a crown above (James Roumieu) and date mark “P” for 1692. Roumieu was a case maker that Quare used (Priestley, p. 421). Date marks are exceedingly rare on silver watches at this time. Plain unmarked outer with monogram initials. 54 mm. It is not unusual for a case to predate or postdate the movement. This case is earlier and unfortunately the circumstance is lost to history.  Thanks to Johnny Wachsmann at  Pieces of Time, a specialist dealer of English watches, for providing information. 

Daniel Quare
London Watch Case Makers

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