John Arnold & Son, London

• Movement: gilded full plate movement, spring detent escapement, undercuts to the escape wheel and balance pivots for oil retention, jewelled to the centre, ‘OZ’ type compensated balance with plain steel three-arm balance surrounded by two bi-metallic affixes having moveable weights on their free ends, gold helical spring, movement signed John Arnold & Son, London, Invt. et Fec, 689/390
• Dial: white enamel dial, Roman numerals, outer minute ring, large subsidiary seconds, numbered 390
• Case: plain gold consular case, the back cover opening to reveal fixed cover with winding aperture, case maker’s mark TH incuse for Thomas Hardy and with London hallmarks for 1790

Terence Camerer Cuss, The English Watch 1585-1970, 2009, p. 301, pl. 187
Hans Staeger, 100 Years of Precision Timekeepers from John Arnold to Arnold & Frodsham 1763-1862, 1997, pp. 179-180

Vaudrey Mercer, John Arnold & Son, 1972, p. 211

Movement running at time of cataloguing. Dial with scratch running out from the centre towards 11 o'clock - difficult to see if this is a hairline. Sympathetically executed repair to the edge of the dial just above and to the right of 11 o'clock at the dial edge. Case with light scuffs and minor depression towards the base.
"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."

This watch is recorded by Vaudrey Mercer in his book John Arnold & Son within the series Arnold termed “Of the Second Kind,” which was a group of small chronometers. This group were numbered to the dial with the ‘numerator’, the fractional number to the backplate differing by 301. Curiously, however, the present watch is one of three examples listed by Mercer where Arnold has made an error in his sequence of fractional
numbers. The present watch is numbered 689/390 to the movement and this series of the “Second Kind” carried the numerator on the dial, but here the denominator is 390. The difference between the fractional numbers is usually 301 but here it is 299 which is the same numerical difference shown on Arnold no. 405/704 and 421/720 which are both from the same series. Taking into account the 301 difference in the fractional numbers of the other watches in the series, it is likely that the numbering of the present watch was intended to be 390/691.

The movement of this watch is signed with the partnership name John Arnold & Son, which was in use from about 1787. An excellent example of the “The Second Kind” series, the movement is jewelled to the centre and the escape wheel and balance pivots have undercuts for oil retention. There is a long detent with shaped foot which are in good, original condition. The watch has an ‘OZ’ balance which Arnold began making
in around 1781-1782 and which continued to be used by his son when the firm became Arnold & Son in 1787; the ‘OZ’ is usually paired, as in the present watch, with a gold helical spring. A detailed description of the ‘OZ’ balance, together with illustrations are shown in Vaudrey Mercer, John Arnold & Son, p.60 and plates 84- 85.

For a note on Arnold see lot 38.