- 86
Dent, London
Estimate
20,000 - 40,000 GBP
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Description
- AN EXCEPTIONAL LARGE SILVER OPEN-FACED CHRONOMETER DECK WATCH 1875, NO. 28317,
- Silver, leather
- diameter 67.5 mm
• gilt three-quarter plate movement, Earnshaw-type duo-in-uno spring detent escapement, large free-sprung bi-metallic compensation balance, blued steel duo-in-uno balance spring, diamond endstone • plain polished silver cuvette with apertures for winding and hand-setting • white enamel dial with British Royal and Russian Imperial warrants, Roman numerals, outer minute track, subsidiary dials for up-and-down and seconds, blued steel hands • plain polished silver case, leather covered and glazed deck case, later short silver chain and key, silver case with London hallmarks for 1875 • movement signed Dent Watchmaker to the Queen, 33 Cockspur Street, Charing Cross, London, No. 28317, dial signed and numbered
Provenance
Christies Geneva, 11th May, 2011, lot 299
Catalogue Note
The movement incorporates Mercer’s auxiliary type H as well as a rare duo-in-uno balance spring with a double terminal curve. The white enamel dial carries the medallions announcing appointments to the Queen and the Empress of Russia, the same warrants are also engraved on the movement.
The present lot was made by John Hammersley for Dent. Hammersley worked mainly for M.F. Dent and several others, and was well known as a successful springer and adjuster, see, Vaudrey Mercer, Appendix X, "Names of Manufacturers Edward John Dent and his Successors", Antiquarian Horological Society, 1977. He also supplied a number of deck watches to the admiralty. He did make a small number of pocket watches signed with his name. For a pocket watch by Hammersley in this sale, see lot 88.
For another similar by Hammersely but made for Charles Frodsham, see Terence Camerer Cuss, The English Watch, p. 414. Pl. 266. The case on the present example is larger by nearly 13mm. Both are by the casemaker James Thomas White, and were made within several years of each other.
Born in 1819, John Hammersley was a springer and adjuster of good reputation. Credited with the introduction of the duo-in-uno balance spring with A.P. Walsh, Hammersely frequently utilized this feature, though he is not acknowledged as its inventor. He was mostly employed by other makers, and died in 1901.
The present lot was made by John Hammersley for Dent. Hammersley worked mainly for M.F. Dent and several others, and was well known as a successful springer and adjuster, see, Vaudrey Mercer, Appendix X, "Names of Manufacturers Edward John Dent and his Successors", Antiquarian Horological Society, 1977. He also supplied a number of deck watches to the admiralty. He did make a small number of pocket watches signed with his name. For a pocket watch by Hammersley in this sale, see lot 88.
For another similar by Hammersely but made for Charles Frodsham, see Terence Camerer Cuss, The English Watch, p. 414. Pl. 266. The case on the present example is larger by nearly 13mm. Both are by the casemaker James Thomas White, and were made within several years of each other.
Born in 1819, John Hammersley was a springer and adjuster of good reputation. Credited with the introduction of the duo-in-uno balance spring with A.P. Walsh, Hammersely frequently utilized this feature, though he is not acknowledged as its inventor. He was mostly employed by other makers, and died in 1901.