Charles Frodsham, London

• Movment: first quality gilt three-quarter plate with double roller ratchet-tooth lever escapement and free sprung regulation, Guillaume balance with spiral blued steel balance spring and overcoil, the tourbillon with Nicole Nielsen Type 2 three-arm polished steel tourbillon carriage, the back plate further mounted with polished steel chronograph work, repeating on two polished steel gongs, signed and numbered By Appointment to the King AD Fmsz, No. 08920, Chas Frodsham, 115 New Bond Strt, Late of 84 Strand, London
• Dial: T. J. Willis type ‘Venetian’ enamel dial, Roman numerals, outer ring calibrated for minutes and chronograph fifths, subsidiary dials for constant seconds and 60-minute register
• Case: large best quality gold case with polished finish, split pusher to the band above 11 o’clock, recessed repeating slide, gold hand-set button with gold olivette, s-knuckle joint and turning pendant, gold dome engraved W.G.H. from J.P.M. 1903, case hallmarked London 1902 and with maker’s mark HMF for Harrison Mill FrodshamWith original presentation case.

Prominent English Collector

Terence Camerer Cuss, The English Watch 1585-1970, plate 281
Vaudrey Mercer, The Frodshams – The story of a family of chronometer makers, AHS, 1981, p. 216

movement running when wound , repeating and chronograph functioning at the time of cataloguing. Dial and hands in excellent condition,case with minor scuffs throughout to be expected, overall superb condition. When re-setting the chronograph, the minute register currently returns to 45 rather than 60.
"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."

Amongst a number of eminent worldwide Charles Frodsham clients, perhaps the most famous, was the Morgan family of New York. Frodshams was the Morgan’s preferred choice for quality timepieces. The association began when Junius Morgan became a business partner in the English branch of the banking house, George Peabody & Co., in 1854. The purchase and maintenance of fine clocks and watches for the Morgan family was continued by John Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) who in 1883 presented a complicated watch to his personal valet George William on the occasion of his marriage. This watch was the forerunner to the most celebrated, and well known, of the Frodsham watches ordered by the Morgans, a series of state-of-the-art open face Tourbillons with minute repeating, split second chronograph, minute register and constant seconds.

To date, some 25 (made between 1897 and 1931) of these watches are known, either as extant or from archive records. They were, at the time of manufacture, one of the most complicated and expensive English production watches available, retailing at £200 to £300.

The 'Morgan caliper' watches were presentation pieces given by J.P. and J.P. Jnr. to close friends and/or new partners of the firm of JP Morgan, thus starting the long tradition of Frodsham presentation watches, perpetuated to this day. All are engraved with presentation inscriptions (the recipients and JPM initials with the year of presentation), and many still retain their original red leather Frodsham boxes, similarly inscribed.

Of the known pieces just 10 have appeared in public auction:

08616, The Esmond Bradley Collection, Sotheby’s New York, 22^nd Oct 2002, lot 25

08867, Antiquorum Hong Kong, 29^th May 1989, lot 342

08920, The present watch

08921, Ineichen Zurcich, 3^rd Mar 1981, lot 44

09636, Christies New York, 25^th Oct 1994, lot 362

09682, Sotheby’s New York, 10^th Dec 2013, lot 68

09777, Christies New York, 18^th April 1984, lot 192

09849, Christies New York, 28^th Oct 1991, lot 360

09857, Sotheby’s New York, 27^th Oct 1997, lot 350

010303, Christies New York, 26^th Jun 1996, lot 140

The other known extant pieces are either in private collections, or remain the property of family descendants of the original owners.

We are grateful to Charles Frodsham & Co, London, for their kind assistance in compiling this lot.