DESCRIPTION:
EPW - John Arnold & Son, London, gold fusee pocket chronometer with spring detent escapement and helical gold hairspring, 56mm, heavy 18K gold OF case bearing London hallmarks for 1825, "T H" marking in cameo for casemaker Thomas Hardy, cream colored enamel dial, KWKS (key not included with this lot), spring detent escapement with exposed detent in channel of plate, OZ balance with helical gold hairspring, diamond endstone, gilt mvt with pierced and engraved balance cock, s#129/430 with matching serial number to dial and corresponding s#129 within case. Gross weight of assembled watch 103.2 dwt (160.5 g). We interpret the case of 1825 vintage with corresponding serial marking to the movement to be a purpose-made replacement presumably for a damaged or lost original, and we note that Thomas Hardy was a frequent casemaker among the Arnolds' pocket chronometer production. Overall, an attractive example of John Arnold's "of the second kind" pocket chronometer movement. This watch has the typical fractional serial number sequence of this series with numerator and denominator having a 301 digit differential.
CONDITION:
Mvt: Started ticking after the customary twist to start but with a frequent audible beat error and with these causing occasional complete stoppages, beat error occurs often on an approximately 6-second interval but occasionally deviates with greater or shorter intervals between the error, overhaul needed for this issue, fine-plus cosmetic mvt condition overall, scratches and small marring adjacent pillar positions and foot of detent, scattered fine to micro-fine scratches elsewhere; dial with light hl from center to 8:30, tiny edge nicks under bezel near 11; fine hands, mild bends to hour and minute; case shows light wear, scattered fine to micro-fine scratches to rear, some small dings to rear; bow pivots freely; glass crystal with some small scratches and short nicks.
ESTIMATE:
$8000
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$11000
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