Viner. A fine and rare 18K gold openface pump minute repeating keyless and keywound lever calendar watch with phases of the moon

SIGNED VINER, INVT. ET FECIT, NO. 4065, 235 REGENT STREET, LONDON, STAMPED WITH LONDON DATE LETTER FOR 1836

Details

Viner. A fine and rare 18K gold openface pump minute repeating keyless and keywound lever calendar watch with phases of the moon
Signed Viner, Invt. et Fecit, No. 4065, 235 Regent Street, London, stamped with London date letter for 1836
The gilt-finished lever movement with transitional winding, later bimetallic compensation balance, minute repeating on two polished steel hammers onto two gongs, gold cuvette, the gold dial with Roman numerals, blued steel moon-style hands, finely engraved scroll and foliage decorated centre, aperture for phases of the moon, three subsidiary dials indicating constant seconds, date and day, in large circular case with finely engraved scroll and foliage decoration, the reverse centred by engraved coat-of-arms and a monogram, pump repeating activated by a pull-twist button in the band, case and cuvette stamped with casemaker's initials LC for Louis Comtesse and London date letter for 1836, dial and movement signed
59 mm. diam.

Lot Essay

Charles Edward Viner, active until around 1840, was renowned for his high quality clocks and watches. He was apprenticed in 1802 and a Liveryman in the Clockmaker's Company.

Viner is credited with the invention of a pump-winding system, an early form of keyless winding. The watch is wound by pulling and pushing a shaft located in the pendant. The repeating mechanism of the present watch is based on the same principle and activated by pulling out the shaft by means of the button in the band, turning it anti-clockwise and pushing it in.

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