Earnshaw. A fine and rare 18K gold pair case openface pocket chronometer

SIGNED THO. EARNSHAW, INVT. ET FECIT, NO. 582, LONDON, NO. 3025, CIRCA 1801

細節

Earnshaw. A fine and rare 18K gold pair case openface pocket chronometer
Signed Tho. Earnshaw, Invt. et Fecit, No. 582, London, No. 3025, circa 1801
With gilt-finished chain fusée movement, Earnshaw spring detent escapement, Earnshaw balance with limiting bar to prevent distortion of the rims and compensation weights, blued steel helical spring, free sprung regulator with diamond endstone, the restored white enamel dial with Roman numerals, gilt spade hands, subsidiary seconds, in plain inner and outer cases, both cases stamped with casemaker's initials TC for Thomas Carpenter and London date letter for 1801, dial and movement signed and numbered
59 mm. diam.

拍品專文

Thomas Earnshaw (1749-1829) was an eminent English watch and chronometer maker and inventor. The present watch is fitted with his spring detent escapement, which he invented around 1780.

During the 19th century this escapement became the standard for marine chronometers and continued to be manufactured for use at sea until the arrival of quartz controlled timekeepers.

For a similar watch by Thomas Earnshaw see The Camerer Cuss Book of Antique Watches, pp. 164 and 205.