Wednesday 1 May 2019

Sailing The High Seas



A 20th century German two day marine chronometer, Wempe, Hamburg, no. 203, retailed by Gebr. Eppner, Berlin in a mahogany case.

Estimate £400 - £600

To be offered for Auction Antiques and Interiors Sale 8th May 2019


Marine Chronometers are timepieces that are precise and accurate enough to be used as portable time standards determining longitude by means of accurately measuring the time of a known fixed location such as Greenwich Mean Time and the time at the current location.

Marine chronometers revolutionised sea voyages and exploration when first developed in the 18th century.  The term chronometer was taken from the Greek words chronos meaning time and meter meaning counter.

In 1878, Herbert Wempe, started out with a store in his aunt’s house, moving to Oldenburg 1894 to start his own watch and jewellery shop.

On January 1st, 1938, Wempe took over the running of Hamburger Chronometerwerke. Founded by the great German shipowners from Hamburg and Bremen in 1905, the Hamburg plant saw the start of Wempe’s shop chain. In 1942 Wempe went on to develop the patent for a unit chronometer, the chronometer is still produced in Hamburg.

“Founded in 1905, Wempe Chronometerwerke has always devoted itself to the exacting task of manufacturing precise maritime instruments and nautical timekeeping systems. Simultaneously cultivating traditional values and keeping its gaze directed toward the future, Wempe numbers among the world’s leading manufacturers” (taken from www.wempe.com



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