John Arnold 03/44: A rare late 1770s pivotted detent pocket chronometer of the earliest type, the signed and numbered white enamel dial with Roman numerals and Arabic five minute divisions, large subsidiary seconds ring invading the hour ring, blued steel hands, the frosted gilt signed and numbered full-plate movement jewelled to the fusee with original jewels and screwed chatons, maintaining power, the double-S steel balance with trammels to steady bars, blued steel helical balance spring with terminal curves, the outer attached to 'gallows' stud, engraved and pierced cock, diamond endstone, now in silver consular case inscribed John Arnold 4/33 restored in 1975 by George Daniels, uniting a contemporary Arnold balance with a new escapement of the original design C.C., with length of silver gilt chain and key.

Details

John Arnold 03/44: A rare late 1770s pivotted detent pocket chronometer of the earliest type, the signed and numbered white enamel dial with Roman numerals and Arabic five minute divisions, large subsidiary seconds ring invading the hour ring, blued steel hands, the frosted gilt signed and numbered full-plate movement jewelled to the fusee with original jewels and screwed chatons, maintaining power, the double-S steel balance with trammels to steady bars, blued steel helical balance spring with terminal curves, the outer attached to 'gallows' stud, engraved and pierced cock, diamond endstone, now in silver consular case inscribed John Arnold 4/33 restored in 1975 by George Daniels, uniting a contemporary Arnold balance with a new escapement of the original design C.C., with length of silver gilt chain and key.
Diam. of dial 60mm.

Provenance

Originally the property of Cecil Clutton and restored for him by George Daniels (see inscription in text).

Lot Essay

For a full description and illustration of this form of Arnold escapement see "Catalogue of Watches in the British Museum VI" by Anthony G Randall and Richard Good, pages 29-31 + 36. Illustration of a similar dial, balance and detent are shown on plates 63, 65 and 70 in "Arnold and Son" by Vaudrey Mercer.

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