This recently serviced Padgett & Braham 8 Day Desk Clock, from 1935, is a classic example of early 20th-century design, to be enjoyed on a daily basis on a desk or bedside table. Made out of silver, with a paired back cream dial, it is both discrete and elegant, with subtle details found throughout.

A British Collaboration

Born in 1897, Stanley Padgett was an entrepreneur with a family background in the jewellery and silversmith trade. At the age of 25, using a bank loan of £100, he bought J. Braham Ltd, which at the time employed three silversmiths and one polisher. Under the combined name of Padgett & Braham, the company would produce silver goods, from cigarette cases to clocks such as this one.

Bringing their silversmith expertise to the table, Padgett & Braham sought the assistance of British watchmaker Smith for the movement which powers this clock. Founded in 1851 by Samuel Smith, the firm S. Smith and Son, or Smiths, was a London-based maker of watches and movements. Supplying its precision watches to various clients, including the Admiralty, the business quickly grew and expanded into a major provider of timepieces, automotive instrumentation, as well as other related goods.

The Design

Made in London in 1935, this Padgett & Braham 8 Day Desk Clock displays the silversmith’s refined sense of design. The dial is slanted at an angle, allowing one to easily glance at the time, when it is placed on a table. The large cream dial features a paired back aesthetic, with lume-filled Arabic numerals and cathedral hands. An “8 DAYS” signature is discreetly placed at 12 o’clock, complementing the overall minimalist appearance of the clock. Meanwhile, a “MADE IN ENGLAND” indication at 6 o’clock nods at the provenance of the case and movement. 

A cylindrical calendar sits atop the angular case, which can be set manually through the wheels on either side of it. The Smiths movement features an eight-day power reserve, and can be set and wound through the back of the case. Deep and well-preserved, the hallmarks found on the case confirm the manufacturer, provenance and silver quality of this clock.