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Lot Essay
Founded in 1834, Charles Frodsham & Co. is the oldest continuously operating maker of precision chronometers. Renowned throughout the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries for its marine chronometers, clocks and exceptional pocket watches, the firm played a pivotal role in the advancement of precision timekeeping. In the modern era, the focus is on the production of wristwatches, with no more than a dozen pieces being constructed annually.
The present Double Impulse Chronometer, delivered on 5 March 2024 and the third example ever produced in this particular configuration, is housed in an elegant 42.2 mm white gold case whose refined architecture reflects the technical originality of the movement within. Distinguished by its stepped bezel, alternating brushed and polished surfaces, and satin-finished caseband, the case also features an unusually positioned crown between 2 and 3 o'clock. This asymmetrical arrangement was adopted to preserve the ideal layout of the movement while maintaining a centrally positioned subsidiary seconds display. The exhibition caseback is secured by an eleven-sided bezel and bears traditional British hallmarks, including the crowned gold mark and the leopard's head of the Goldsmiths' Company of London, a hallmark that has certified precious metal objects since the fourteenth century.
At the heart of the watch lies one of the most remarkable mechanical achievements of contemporary independent watchmaking. Developed over sixteen years, the manually wound Frodsham movement incorporates George Daniels' Double Impulse Escapement, previously utilised by Daniels in seven large pocket chronometers including his two Space Traveller's watches, and by Derek Pratt in a tourbillon wristwatch. Beneath the imposing large diameter free-sprung balance, with a proprietary shock protection system, and supported by a graceful black-polished three-armed bridge, two independent escape wheels alternately engage a titanium detent, each powered by its own dedicated gear train and mainspring barrel.
This unique architecture delivers exceptionally stable transmission of energy, enhancing chronometric precision. A sophisticated synchronisation mechanism, using a balance brake, ensures both barrels remain perfectly coordinated, explaining why the movement only begins running once fully wound, thereafter providing approximately 40 hours of power reserve. The discreet state of wind mechanism with differential sun and planet gearing, is read from the snail wheel mounted within the winding wheels. The engraved movement number continues the historic serial sequence inaugurated by John Arnold in 1761 and perpetuated by Charles Frodsham following the acquisition of Arnold's business in 1843, linking the present timepiece directly to one of the greatest traditions of English chronometer making.
The dial reflects the same uncompromising pursuit of precision and refinement. Crafted from zirconium oxide ceramic, it possesses the luminous appearance of grand feu enamel while offering superior long-term stability. The applied Arabic numerals and distinctive pointer-style hands are all heat-treated to a rich purple hue, providing exceptional contrast against the pristine white dial. Inspired by an early twentieth-century Frodsham Tourbillon watch, both hour and minute hands share the same length despite their differing visual weight, while the brand signature and minute and seconds tracks are applied by vapour deposition rather than conventional printing. The absence of the optional historical cyphers results in a particularly clean and contemporary aesthetic, perfectly complementing the extraordinary movement beneath.
The present Double Impulse Chronometer, delivered on 5 March 2024 and the third example ever produced in this particular configuration, is housed in an elegant 42.2 mm white gold case whose refined architecture reflects the technical originality of the movement within. Distinguished by its stepped bezel, alternating brushed and polished surfaces, and satin-finished caseband, the case also features an unusually positioned crown between 2 and 3 o'clock. This asymmetrical arrangement was adopted to preserve the ideal layout of the movement while maintaining a centrally positioned subsidiary seconds display. The exhibition caseback is secured by an eleven-sided bezel and bears traditional British hallmarks, including the crowned gold mark and the leopard's head of the Goldsmiths' Company of London, a hallmark that has certified precious metal objects since the fourteenth century.
At the heart of the watch lies one of the most remarkable mechanical achievements of contemporary independent watchmaking. Developed over sixteen years, the manually wound Frodsham movement incorporates George Daniels' Double Impulse Escapement, previously utilised by Daniels in seven large pocket chronometers including his two Space Traveller's watches, and by Derek Pratt in a tourbillon wristwatch. Beneath the imposing large diameter free-sprung balance, with a proprietary shock protection system, and supported by a graceful black-polished three-armed bridge, two independent escape wheels alternately engage a titanium detent, each powered by its own dedicated gear train and mainspring barrel.
This unique architecture delivers exceptionally stable transmission of energy, enhancing chronometric precision. A sophisticated synchronisation mechanism, using a balance brake, ensures both barrels remain perfectly coordinated, explaining why the movement only begins running once fully wound, thereafter providing approximately 40 hours of power reserve. The discreet state of wind mechanism with differential sun and planet gearing, is read from the snail wheel mounted within the winding wheels. The engraved movement number continues the historic serial sequence inaugurated by John Arnold in 1761 and perpetuated by Charles Frodsham following the acquisition of Arnold's business in 1843, linking the present timepiece directly to one of the greatest traditions of English chronometer making.
The dial reflects the same uncompromising pursuit of precision and refinement. Crafted from zirconium oxide ceramic, it possesses the luminous appearance of grand feu enamel while offering superior long-term stability. The applied Arabic numerals and distinctive pointer-style hands are all heat-treated to a rich purple hue, providing exceptional contrast against the pristine white dial. Inspired by an early twentieth-century Frodsham Tourbillon watch, both hour and minute hands share the same length despite their differing visual weight, while the brand signature and minute and seconds tracks are applied by vapour deposition rather than conventional printing. The absence of the optional historical cyphers results in a particularly clean and contemporary aesthetic, perfectly complementing the extraordinary movement beneath.