Decharmes

Decharmes, London, circa 1730. Fine 22K gold triple-cased quarter-repeating watch, repeating on a bell or à tact, made for the Dutch market. Outer: two-body, shagreen-covered. Middle: two-body, repoussée with a scene depicting Ulysses and the Phaeacians, pierced and engraved band with four vignettes with repoussée busts, pierced and engraved bezel with repoussé flowers, silver dust cap with engraved mask in the center. Gold, champlevé radial Roman numerals, outer minute arched ring with five-minute Arabic markers on polished oval cartouches, center chased with a shield. Blued steel "fleur-de-lis" and ornamented poker hands. Notes Simon Decharmes, was a Frenchman recorded as member of the Clockmakers' Company from 1691 to 1730. His son, David, was also a watchmaker of great repute.WindmillsJoseph Windmills, a fine maker of clocks and watches, is recorded as having worked in London, in Tower Street. He entered the Clockmakers' Company in 1671, and was Master from 1702 to 1723. His son Thomas was apprenticed in 1686, entered the Clockmakers' Company in 1695, and was Master from 1719 to 1732. He worked alone for a short time and then entered into partnership with Bennett.