Shell Giant Turkish Ottoman Bell Chime Coach Watch
Fine and rare giant French silver and tortoise shell pair case verge and fusee bell hour
strike and repeat coach watch for the Turkish Ottoman market by Mestral, Paris, circa 1800.
The dial (filled chips) with replacement blued steel hands signed (incorrectly) with
the name of a London maker. Beautiful shell outer case and heavy engraved silver inner
case with the bell in the back. Fine gilt movement with large pierced and engraved
balance cock. Signed on the back and on the edge of the movement.
This watch strikes the hours automatically like a clock. Strike/Silent lever at the edge of
the dial. When the pendant is depressed it also repeats the hours. Loud and clear tones.
Very unusual strike/repeat work under the dial. Case and movement in particularly fine
condition.
We have not seen another watch of this type by a French maker. Watches from this
period for the Turkish Ottoman market were typically made in London and often are found
with the name of one London maker on the dial and the name of another London maker on
the movement. We assume this is because some London makers were better known to
the Ottoman Turkish buyers. This watch was most likely made with a London maker's name
on the dial for the same reason. Markwick, Markham and Perigal were a major watch supplier
to theTurkish Ottoman market.
