Pocket watch
Date
ca.1749
Creator
Unknown, Watchmaker
Object type
Archive reference number
Material
Content object
Description
A cased pocket watch, with a gold dial, roman numerals and verge escapement, a gold stem and crown. The outer case repousse with a floral decoration. The winding key is below and right [as viewed].
Watch inscription: 'Mrs. Cath. Conduit to Sir Isaac Newton
January 4th 1708'
Until recently it was believed this watch belonged to Sir Isaac Newton; gifted to him by his niece Catherine Conduit née Barton. However, research undertaken in 2001 highlighted that in 1708, the supposed time of the inscription, Catherine had not yet been married and was still referred to as Mrs Barton. Further investigation concluded that the hallmark dates to 1749, years after Newton's death, and the dial dates to 1810.
Newton (1643-1727) British natural philosopher and mathematician, was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1672 and served as its President from 1703 to 1727.
Watch inscription: 'Mrs. Cath. Conduit to Sir Isaac Newton
January 4th 1708'
Until recently it was believed this watch belonged to Sir Isaac Newton; gifted to him by his niece Catherine Conduit née Barton. However, research undertaken in 2001 highlighted that in 1708, the supposed time of the inscription, Catherine had not yet been married and was still referred to as Mrs Barton. Further investigation concluded that the hallmark dates to 1749, years after Newton's death, and the dial dates to 1810.
Newton (1643-1727) British natural philosopher and mathematician, was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1672 and served as its President from 1703 to 1727.
Object history
Listed in the Record of the Royal Society 1940 as 'Sir Isaac Newton's Watch', p.166. Article revising this fact, Milo Keynes' 'A bogus Newtonian ‘curiosity’ at The Royal Society' Notes and Records vol. 55, no. 2, can be found here: https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsnr.2001.0141
Associated place