Front, Dial, Back, Case mark, Dust cap, Movement, Edge view of movement

Billon was a watchmaker in Philadelphia during the period 1798 to 1819 and was in business as Billon & Co. from 1795 to 1797 according to Brix.*

It is not clear how much local content, if any, is in this watch, but it is a very nice example in a very large (62 mm) size. The watch is French in origin from the style and lack of hallmarks on the consular case. It cannot be dated precisely, but is likely very close to 1800. The case has a mark that looks like the open palm of a hand and the letters IIHB and F. The B of the first group is struck with a prominent shadow. The F has a circular mark above it and could be read as T/C if turned through 90°. There are also the numbers 552 (near the letters) and 29101 (near the edge of the case).

The verge movement has a delicate balance bridge and a nicely engraved Fast and Slow on the regulator disk. The dust cap is hinged in the French style and is signed Charles Billon Philadelphia as is the movement. The diameter of the back plate is 50 mm.

The watch winds through the dial as most French watches of the period do and also has a simple calendar. The dial is quite lovely with gold dots demarking the 5 minute intervals and the space between the date indications. The hour and calendar hands appear original, but the minute hand is clearly a replacement.

*Maurice Brix, "List of Philadelphia Silversmiths and Allied Artificers, from 1682 - 1850" Philadelphia: Privately printed, 1920. (Thanks to David Grace for this reference.)