Last updated on October 2, 2024
I need to be honest at the start. I don’t own a minute repeater watch and most probably never will. The antique watches that I collect are invariably simple timekeepers, with the only likely complication being a date function. I want reliable, useable watches that aren’t going to cause a nightmare when it comes to servicing. Now that I have clarified my collecting criteria, I can my attention to the topic of this post, minute repeaters. I was recently asked by a reader if I could write a post on minute repeaters, and here it is.
What is a minute repeater watch?
A minute repeater is a type of watch complication that audibly chimes the time on demand, typically using a series of gongs and hammers. When activated, usually by sliding a lever on the side of the case, the watch strikes the hours, quarter hours, and minutes. The minute repeater is highly regarded among collectors and enthusiasts because of the complexity involved in its construction and its practical use in the days before electric lighting. It is also very useful for those with poor eyesight.
Invention and history
The concept of the minute repeater dates back to the late 17th century. The first minute repeaters for clocks were introduced in 1676 by Edward Barlow, who used a rack and snail striking mechanism. Â In 1687, Daniel Quare improved upon this design, creating a version closer to what we see in modern minute repeaters. These first repeaters, used a bell to chime the hours, quarters and minutes. In the mid-18th century, Abraham-Louis Breguet further refined the mechanism, replacing the bell with coiled wire gongs to save space and produce different tones. The gongs would resonate the hours, quarters, and minutes by alternating the musical pitch.
How a minute repeater works
The minute repeater works through a mechanical process that involves multiple components. Typically, most repeaters use two gongs, crafted from the same wire, each struck by small hammers to produce different tones (bass and treble). The gongs produce the bass and treble sounds that differentiate between the hours, quarters, and minutes. In simple terms, it functions as described below:
- Activation: A lever, usually located on the side of the watch, is slid to wind up a small spring. This action sets off the repeater mechanism.
- Striking Mechanism: Once activated, the watch uses two gongs and two hammers. Each part of the time (hours, quarter-hours, and minutes) is struck with a different tone:
- Hours: The lower-pitched gong strikes the number of hours.
- Quarter-hours: The higher-pitched gong strikes once for each quarter-hour (15-minute intervals). Often, a combination of the two gongs will sound, indicating the number of quarter-hours.
- Minutes: After the quarter hours, the watch strikes the remaining minutes past the last quarter on the higher-pitched gong.
For example, if the time is 7:52, the minute repeater will strike:
- Seven low tones for the hours,
- Three sets of double tones for the quarter-hours (representing 45 minutes),
- Seven high tones for the additional minutes.
Types of minute repeaters
Early watch repeater mechanisms were operated by pressing and holding the pendant, or the top part of the watch, which engaged the chiming mechanism. Over time, a more efficient method was developed: a slide mechanism located along the side of the watch case. This slide, when pushed, winds a separate spring dedicated solely to powering the repeater function. Once the slide is released, the spring begins to unwind, and its stored energy drives the repeater mechanism through its sequence of chimes, marking the hours, quarter-hours, and minutes as needed. This evolution not only made repeaters more user-friendly but also allowed for greater precision and durability.
The traditional minute repeater has three sets of chimes: first, a bass tone to indicate the hour, followed by a treble-bass combination to mark the number of quarter-hours past the hour, and finally, treble notes to represent the number of minutes after the last quarter-hour. This sophisticated system allows the wearer to audibly tell the time with great precision.
Quarter repeaters
However, there are other types of minute repeaters, each with varying complexity. The quarter repeater is one of the simpler versions, chiming only the hours and the number of quarters past the hour. The half-quarter repeater adds another level of detail by chiming the hours and each half-quarter (7.5-minute intervals) past the hour. The five-minute repeater chimes the hours followed by the number of five-minute intervals past the hour. These variations provide options for collectors and watch enthusiasts depending on the level of detail they desire from the chimes.
The most complex of all is the grande sonnerie, a true masterpiece of watchmaking. It automatically strikes the hours and quarters at every quarter-hour, functioning as both a minute repeater and a striking watch. Unlike standard repeaters that only chime when triggered, a grande sonnerie continuously marks the passage of time, making it one of the most sought-after complications in for collectors due to its incredible complexity and engineering.
Conclusion
The minute repeater was a popular feature in pocket watches, typically before applying luminous material on watch hands. The acoustic indication of time was useful for telling the time in low light conditions. With the onset of luminous paint applied to watch hands and indices, the minute repeater became less of a necessity in the 20th century.
Related content
Repeater (Horology) at Wikipedia.