DESCRIPTION:
EPW - A. Stroh, London, rare early ultra-thin watch, 42mm, 5.8mm front to rear thickness with crystal included, 18K gold OF original case bearing London hallmarks for 1854, incuse "W . F" marking for casemaker William Francis, engine turned and engraved gold dial, KWKS via a male key, lever escapement, possibly 17J, gilt mvt, no visible s#. Comes with an unmarked fitted leather box and comes with a male style winding key. Gross weight of assembled watch 24.1 dwt (37.5 g). A rare and visually impressive piece of strikingly thin profile; although August Stroh began his career as a watchmaker, he was to ultimately become an important figure in the early electrical industry as the chief mechanic for noted inventor Charles Wheatstone.
CONDITION:
Mvt: Running, fine-plus cosmetic mvt condition overall, good gilt tone, numerous fine to micro-fine scratches with majority appearing to be from past key slips while setting; dial with scattered micro-fine scratches, some losses to printing of hour numerals; fine hands, hour is plum colored with areas of finish loss, minute and seconds-hand are blue; case shows little wear, fine to micro-fine scratches to rear, ding to edge near 6; tight bow; good glass crystal. Box shows light wear, mild finish loss to edges of exterior, good button latch though box closing with some gap along right side.
ESTIMATE:
$1600
-
$2800
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