At a glance
Xu Jiabao’s flying-ball clocks: identify the maker before the mechanism
Xu Jiabao (许家宝) is documented as an independent clockmaker and inventor in Changzhou, Jiangsu, rather than as the registered name of a separate watch company. AHCI’s member record gives Xu’s birth year as 1941 and membership from 2017.
The China Horologe Association recognized Xu in its second cohort of mechanical-clock-movement making masters, in a profile published on 22 May 2015. The association credits Xu with flying-ball instruments and first-through-fourth-generation flying-ball clocks, alongside an automatic chain-clock movement and a spring-driven musical flying-ball transmission.
The association dates a public presentation of Xu’s work in Nanjing to January 2007. The retrospective assigns a flying-ball instrument to 2002, while the association reports the January 2007 presentation; these may refer to different development and exhibition stages, but an exact object/version match is not established.
AHCI announced Xu’s death on 10 March 2023, saying it had occurred earlier that week; the 2024 retrospective independently reports his death in 2023. 12345
The work and why it matters
A 2024 retrospective dates Xu’s repair practice to 1955 and clock-design work to 1985, and also discusses wristwatch work; his identity should not be reduced to either a watch-only maker or someone who never worked on watches. A surviving AHCI member page cannot be used as evidence that Xu remained alive or personally active after the 2023 death announcement.
Xu’s documented significance combines experimental clock mechanisms with recognition by the Chinese professional association and AHCI. The Chinese association describes AHCI candidacy in 2010, while AHCI’s own profile records membership from 2017; candidacy and full membership should be stored as different statuses. 4152
Key dates
- 1955
Repair practice begins according to retrospective reporting
A 2024 retrospective dates Xu’s repair practice to 1955 and clock-design work to 1985, and also discusses wristwatch work; his identity should not be reduced to either a watch-only maker or someone who never worked on watches. 4
- 1985
Clock-design work begins according to retrospective reporting
A 2024 retrospective dates Xu’s repair practice to 1955 and clock-design work to 1985, and also discusses wristwatch work; his identity should not be reduced to either a watch-only maker or someone who never worked on watches. 4
- 2002
Retrospective dates a flying-ball instrument to this year; version match unresolved
The retrospective assigns a flying-ball instrument to 2002, while the association reports the January 2007 presentation; these may refer to different development and exhibition stages, but an exact object/version match is not established. 42
- 2007-01
Nanjing public presentation reported by the association
The association dates a public presentation of Xu’s work in Nanjing to January 2007. 2
- 2010
Ownership and continuity
Xu Jiabao (许家宝) is documented as an independent clockmaker and inventor in Changzhou, Jiangsu, rather than as the registered name of a separate watch company. 123
Watchmakers and designers linked to Xu Jiabao (许家宝), independent clockmaker
These people have a sourced relationship to this brand in the Enjoy Watches register. The label beside each name states the relationship recorded; it should not be read as a broader employment or ownership claim.
- Xu Jiabao — Own watchmaking practice
Identification and service
For an individual watch, record the complete reference, serial, dial, case, and movement markings and compare them with dated primary documentation.
A brand history cannot authenticate, appraise, or establish the provenance of a particular watch.
Evidence and limits
How the claims are supported
- reasonable inference
Xu Jiabao (许家宝) is documented as an independent clockmaker and inventor in Changzhou, Jiangsu, rather than as the registered name of a separate watch company.
- verified fact
AHCI’s member record gives Xu’s birth year as 1941 and membership from 2017.
- verified fact
The China Horologe Association recognized Xu in its second cohort of mechanical-clock-movement making masters, in a profile published on 22 May 2015.
- verified fact
The association credits Xu with flying-ball instruments and first-through-fourth-generation flying-ball clocks, alongside an automatic chain-clock movement and a spring-driven musical flying-ball transmission.
- verified fact
The association dates a public presentation of Xu’s work in Nanjing to January 2007.
- source stated claim
A 2024 retrospective dates Xu’s repair practice to 1955 and clock-design work to 1985, and also discusses wristwatch work; his identity should not be reduced to either a watch-only maker or someone who never worked on watches.
- reasonable inference
The retrospective assigns a flying-ball instrument to 2002, while the association reports the January 2007 presentation; these may refer to different development and exhibition stages, but an exact object/version match is not established.
- verified fact
AHCI announced Xu’s death on 10 March 2023, saying it had occurred earlier that week; the 2024 retrospective independently reports his death in 2023.
- reasonable inference
A surviving AHCI member page cannot be used as evidence that Xu remained alive or personally active after the 2023 death announcement.
- reasonable inference
Xu’s documented significance combines experimental clock mechanisms with recognition by the Chinese professional association and AHCI.
- reasonable inference
The Chinese association describes AHCI candidacy in 2010, while AHCI’s own profile records membership from 2017; candidacy and full membership should be stored as different statuses.
Known limits
- Was there a registered workshop/company or trade name distinct from Xu’s own name?
- Who holds the workshop, designs, instruments or intellectual property after Xu’s death?
- How do the 2002 instrument, 2007 presentation and four clock generations correspond?
- What is Xu’s exact death day and the independently documented start date of his own workshop?
- This identity dossier is not a complete catalogue of every watch or reference.
Direct sources
- Xu JiabaoAcadémie Horlogère des Créateurs Indépendants (AHCI) · association member record · accessed September 15, 2026
Locator: Member biography, “Member since 2017”, birth year 1941 and Changzhou/Jiangsu address fields; extracted lines 9–28. First-party source; its statements remain attributed.
- 第二批中国机械钟机心制作大师许家宝中国钟表协会 / China Horologe Association · professional association award profile · accessed September 15, 2026
Locator: Title and biography describing independent clock mechanisms, flying-ball works and January 2007 Nanjing exhibition; extracted lines 91–102. External source.
- 钟表大师 — 中国钟表大师中国钟表协会 / China Horologe Association · professional association directory · accessed September 15, 2026
Locator: Entries 唐西平 / 烟台北极星国有控股有限公司 and 许家宝 / 独立制表人; extracted lines 123–129. External source.
- In-Depth: The Evolution of Independent Watchmaking in China Part 2Revolution Watch · specialist historical reporting · accessed September 15, 2026
Locator: Section “许家宝 (Xu Jiabao)”, especially extracted lines 129–148. External source.
- AHCI memorial announcement for Xu JiabaoAHCI official Instagram · association memorial announcement · accessed September 15, 2026
Locator: Post caption beginning “Earlier this week our dear friend, Chinese watchmaker and inventor Xu Jiabao has passed away”. First-party source; its statements remain attributed.
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