Oudin

Charles Oudin, carriage clock and original leather case, with Alarum and Half-hourly Strike, ormolu and nickeled bronze case, second half of 19th Century.

Signed on the dial: CHLES OUDIN, Hger de la Marine de l’Etat, PALAIS-ROYAL, 52, PARIS

The movement with Maltese crosses on all barrels, allowing for better timekeeping, the silvered platform with English-type crabtooth escapement and cut bi-metallic balance wheel. Single-rack half-hourly French strike on a blued steel gong, with repeat button on top of the case. Alarum on the same gong. Ebauche movement from Louis Batardon (established rue Castex in Paris, circa 1870). Autonomy 8 days.
Two circular enamel dials in a frosted gilt support plate, the main indicating hours and minutes, the subsidiary indicating the alarum, both with blued steel Breguet hands, signature CHLES OUDIN, Hger de la Marine de l’Etat, PALAIS-ROYAL, 52, PARIS.
Ormolu and nickeled bronze case with bevelled glass on five sides allowing for a good view of the movement from all sides, the serial number 1622 is indicated on the rear movement plate.

Dimensions

H. 8" (20 cm) with handle upright; W. 4" (10 cm); D. 3 ½" (9 cm)

Charles Oudin

Charles Oudin was one of the most brilliant of Abraham Louis Bréguet’s pupils. He was directly involved in the design and manufacture of, amongst others, “Subscrition” watches and watches with perpetual calendars. For his own production he developed a new system of displaying the equation of time on “Subscription” watches, allowing them to indicate solar time and mean time simultaneously.
He established his workshop at 52 Palais-Royal where his mosaic sign can still be admired today, with his title of « Horloger de la Marine française ». Charles Oudin’s creations were sold and relished by the royal courts of Europe, mostly remarkable watches. The Czar and Czarin of Russia, the King and Queen of Spain, the King of Portugal, the Empress Joséphine, Napoléon the IIIrd, the Count of Chambord, the King of Italy, the King of Greece and Pope Pie VII were all his customers.