7,316 CHF
“Free-Sprung Minute- Repeater” J. W. Benson, London, by special warrants to H.M. The Queen & H.R.H. The Prince of Wales, 62 & 64 Ludgate Hill, No. 2281. The case by Frederick Thoms with London hallmarks for 1896. Very fine and rare, hunting-cased, keyless, minute-repeating, 18K gold pocket watch probably destined for an Observatory trial. Four-body, "bassine", polished, by Frederick Thoms (casemaker’s mark FT), thiefproof swivel bow. Hinged gold cuvette. White enamel, by Willis, with radial Roman numerals, outer minute track, subsidiary seconds dial. Blued steel "Spade" hands. Notes This watch is from a series of complicated pieces destined for the Kew Observatory Contests, which accounts for the unusually high standards on finishing the escapement and employing a free-sprung double-overcoiled balance spring.
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2006-05-14
