Jewellery, Watches and Objects of Vertu

Henry Capt. Genève, A gold hunting cased keyless “Demi Chronometre” watch, engraved ‘To Capt. Duncan from the owner of “Madge” 1881’ No. 31107, circa 1880
Movement: damascened, jewelled lever escapement, wolf’s tooth winding
Dial: white enamel, Roman numerals, subsidiary seconds, stop/start centre seconds
Case: 18ct gold, glazed cuvette, inscription to the rear cover, engraved initals RD to the front cover, milled bands
Signed: case, dial and movement
Dimensions: diameter 52mm
Accessories: fitted presentation case
£800-£1,000

Henry Capt. used the term Demi-Chronomètre to indicate that a movement had been sent to the Observatory for trials but did not complete the entire course of testing. Henry Capt. and Vacheron Constantin are the only Swiss makers known for using this term.

The ‘Madge’ was a racing cutter (yacht) owned by James Coats, a thread manufacturer of Paisley, Scotland. When it arrived in New York in 1881, the ‘Madge’ won seven of eight starts at the America’s Cup that season.