Dent, London

• frosted gilt movement marked 'Patent', Earnshaw type spring detent escapement, free-sprung bi-metallic compensation balance, spiral balance spring with double overcoil,  decoratively engraved balance cock with ruby endstone, chronograph mechanism visible to the backplate • white enamel dial, subsidiary dials for constant seconds to the left and hours to the right, outer minute/chronograph seconds track, three central blued steel hands for constant minutes, chronograph seconds and chronograph minute recording • 18k gold plain polished case, the front hinged cover with monogram, plain snap-on back cover, hallmarked gold pendant and bow, chronograph push-piece to the band, case hallmarked for London 1866 and with maker’s mark AN for Adolphe Nicole • movement signed Dent Watch Maker to the Queen, 33, Cockspur Street, London, No. 25347

Sotheby's Geneva, 17th May 2000, lot 93

Terence Camerer Cuss, The English Watch 1585-1970, p.405, pl.258

Adolphe Nicole was granted a patent for the first English Chronograph where the hands could be reset to zero by a single button. The present lot is an excellent example of the patent. Of further interest is the combination of Chronograph with spring detent escapement. For another similar Dent, see Esmond Bradley Martin, Extraordinary Watches, Sotheby's New York, 22 October, 2002, lot 16.