Josiah Emery, London

• 20'''gilt full plate movement, fuse for the going train, Harrison's maintaining power, pivoted detent escapement, gilt brass three-arm balance with double-S Arnold/Emery type compensation, gold helical spring • white enamel Breguet-type dial, Arabic numerals, subsidiary dial for constant seconds, blued steel Breguet hands • 18k yellow gold polished consular case • movement signed Josiah Emery, Charing Cross, London 847, dial signed, case with maker's mark JJL (Jean-Louis Joly)

Talon Family

Please note that the movement has not been checked for timekeeping accuracy and Sotheby's will not be held responsible for any repairs should they be required. The movement is not working. The mainspring is broken to the centre. The escapement wheel is broken, one quarter of the rim is missing and the top pivot is also missing. The dial has some hairlines on the subsidiary seconds dial and the second track a bit faded but overall in good condition. Case with light scuffs has been polished, the hallmarks are rubbed. Restoration of the movement is required and should be carried out in the future at the buyer's expense.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. All dimensions in catalogue descriptions are approximate. Condition reports may not specify mechanical replacements or imperfections to the movement, case, dial, pendulum, separate base(s) or dome. Watches in water-resistant cases have been opened to examine movements but no warranties are made that the watches are currently water-resistant. Please note that we do not guarantee the authenticity of any individual component parts, such as wheels, hands, crowns, crystals, screws, bracelets and leather bands, since subsequent repairs and restoration work may have resulted in the replacement of original parts. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue. In particular, please note it is the purchaser's responsibility to comply with any applicable import and export matters, particularly in relation to lots incorporating materials from endangered species.NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

**Please be advised that bands made of materials derived from endangered or otherwise protected species (i.e. alligator and crocodile) are not sold with the watches and are for display purposes only. We reserve the right to remove these bands prior to shipping.

Important Notice regarding importation into the United States of Rolex watches
Sotheby's cannot arrange for the delivery of Rolex watches to the United States because U.S. laws restricts the import of Rolex watches. The buyer or a designated agent may collect the property in the country of sale."

Josiah Emery was born in Geneva in 1725. By 1762 he had settled in London. He is best known as a pioneer of the lever escapement, being the first maker to use the escapement after Thomas Mudge. Count von Bruhl, Ambassador to Britain for the Count of Saxony, was instrumental in introducing Emery to Mudge’s work and encouraging him in the production of the lever escapement. A renowned maker of extremely fine watches he made a few precision timepieces prior to taking up his pioneering work with the lever escapement.

The present watch, no 847 is one of only four precision watches know by Josiah Emery with a pivoted detent escapement. The other examples know are no’s 781 (in the British Museum collection), no 875 (in a private collection) and no 888 (in a private collection). Heavily influenced by John Roger Arnold’s work at the time, the escapement of these watches is very similar to that of Arnold’s. The use of these early pocket chronometers remains unknown but they were very expensive piece which were almost certainly owned by wealthy fashion-conscious gentlemen.

When first made, no 847 would have had a typical Emery-type white enamel dial and 18k gold consular case made by Valentine Walker. In 1797 the watch received an upgrade; this is evident by the replaced main spring marked April 97. The old compensation was replaced by the Arnold/Emery type double-S arrangement which was designed to fit the original balance. The flat spiral balance spring was changed for the gold helical spring. It is possible this work was carried out by Arnold, as the gold helical springs were favoured by the Arnolds at this time (Emery had died in 1794).

This watch underwent a further fascinating transformation upon transfer to the workshop of Arnold’s friend Abraham Louis Breguet in France. In around 1800 the watch was fitted with a new high quality Breguet-type dial by Jean-Antoine Borel (marked on the counter enamel), blued steel demi-lune hands and an exceptionally fine gold consular case made by Breguet’s principle case maker Jean-Louis Joly.

For further background information on Josiah Emery and his watches see Josiah Emery, Watchmaker of Charing Cross’, Antiquarian Horology, Vol.22 - 24, No.1- 6 by Jonathan Betts.

The Talon family:

This noble family was founded by Artus Talon in 1490 in Ireland. The family moved to France in the seventeenth century and occupied many important positions. Three members are particularly important. First of all, Omer Talon (1595-1652) was Great Lawyer and prosecutor of the King. Then, Jean Talon (1625-1694) was the first superintendent of the New France (today known as Canada) and is regarded as the founder of Quebec. Finally, Antonio-Talon Homer (1760-1811) occupied one of the highest positions of the French security under Louis XVI and took part in the organization of the famous Varenne’s escape. The family moved to Bologna, Italy, in 1830.