Front, Back, Dial, Movement, 2nd view of Movement, Edge view of movement, Outer case, Inner case front, Inner case back, Inner case inside

This chronometer signed Barraud was most likely actually made by Pennington. The movement is discussed in Jagger's book on Barraud. The watch was attributed to Jamison by Jagger and was presumed to have been re-engraved and re-dialed to only have the Barraud signature rather than Barraud & Jamison. This conjecture is supported by the lack of any engraving on the plate below the slot for the detent and the slightly different finish to that portion of the plate. It could have been engraved Jamison Portsea at one time. If that were the case, the original dial would have also been signed  Barraud Cornhill on one side and Jamison Portsea on the other side. However, given the depth of the engraving of the Barraud signature, there would have been some traces of the Jamison signature left even after refinishing. Both areas are on the same piece of metal.

The balance and detent are not at all like other Jamison work and are very high quality and probably better than Jamison could have done. The dial is very uncommon with the indications marked by 4 second clusters rather than 5 second clusters. This dial is almost unique to Barraud chronometers of the period and it is extremely unlikely that it is a replacement. If this watch started life as a Barraud & Jamison chronometer, it had significant work done on it within a few years of its making and likely before it ever left the Barraud shop.

The previous owner of the watch had a case made for it in 1984 by Martin Matthews. He requested the case without a signature or hallmark and when I acquired it in 2005, it was too late to add those details. I think the case is the finest example of Matthew's work that I have seen and most others seem to concur.

The serial number 196 would place the chronometer earlier than the common verge that is also in the collection. The date of the verge should probably be modified to be a bit later since this piece cannot date from much before 1800. It is also possible that chronometers were numbered separately from common watches.

The watch had old replacement hands which have been replaced with authentic replicas of original hands made by John Wayper. The satin finish on the hands is characteristic of Barraud's top work of this period.