Hugh Vivian” Bahne Bonniksen

“Hugh Vivian” Bahne Bonniksen, made for S. Smith & Son, 9 Strand, London, Makers to the Admiralty and H.M. The King of Spain, No. 188-261, London hallmarks for 1908 - 1909. Very fine and extremely rare 18K gold, Anti-magnetic, keyless pocket watch with Bonniksen patented 52 1/2 minute Karrusel regulator and Guillaume balance, Especially Good Class "A" Kew rating with 82-3 marks, with the original S. Smith & Son Ltd fitted box. Four-body, "pomme et filets", polished, made by Samuel Smith (SS), hinged back engraved with a coat of armsand motto, swivel bow. Hinged gold cuvette inscribed "Hugh Vivian, 1909". White enamel, by Willis, radialRoman numerals, outer minute track, subsidiary seconds. Gold "spade" hands. Notes English watches with Guillaume balances are very rare. Dent and Frodsham used few, starting in 1916, Northern Goldsmiths’ Co., Newcastle-on-Tyne made few in 1918, Dreyfuss Moise of London two in 1929. Samuel Smith and Stauffer Co. seem to be the two English companies that had most faith in the Guillaume balance. This watch comes from a small series which Smith destined for the Kew Observatory trials. His No. 191-222 won 3rd place in 1898, his No. 192-256 won 11th place in 1915. Smith's No. 192-233, clas-sified as a deck watch, took part in the 1918 trial. The movement of the present watch would have been supplied by Bonniksen and then fitted with a Guillaume balance and adjusted by Smith for entry into the Observatory trials. Bonniksen patent Karruse