John Arnold, London

• Movement: gilded full plate, spring detent escapement, decoratively pierced and engraved balance cock, diamond endstone, 'Z' balance, gold helical spring, signed John Arnold, Invt. et Fecit, No. 45
• Dial: white enamel, Roman numerals, outer Arabic minute ring, subsidiary seconds, blued steel hands, signed and numbered Arnold, 45
• Case: plain silver consular case, the back opening to reveal fixed cover with winding aperture, inner and outer backs both hallmarked London, 1799 and with maker's mark DW incuse for Daniel Walker

Sir John Prestige to Percy Webster, circa 1945
Percy Webster to 5^th Baron Harris, Belmont Park, 1945
5th Baron Harris to Camerer Cuss, 1971
Private Collector to Bobinet Ltd and circa 1993 to private collector

Terence Camerer Cuss, The English Watch 1585-1970, 2009, p. 273, pl. 167
Vaudrey Mercer, John Arnold & Son, 1972, p. 210
Hans Staeger, 100 Years of Precision Timekeepers from John Arnold to Arnold & Frodsham, 1763-1862, 1997, pp. 67-68
Antiquarian Horology, No. 4, Vol. 7, Sept. 1971, p. 275 (Camerer Cuss advertisement)
Antiquarian Horology, No.6, Vol. 20, Summer 1993, p. 491 (Bobinet advertisement)

Movement just running for short periods of time whilst cataloguing. Dial in good overall condition. Case with light scuffs.
"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."

John Arnold used the pivoted detent escapement up to 1782 and the spring detent thereafter. No. 45 is among the first 20 pocket chronometers by Arnold to survive. He and his son were in the habit of updating their early works and, indeed, only one with a lower number - no. 1/36 now in the National Maritime Museum - survives unrestored and in its original condition. The dial, style of signature and hands are characteristic of the period around 1800. It would seem likely that when, probably John Roger Arnold (Arnold senior died in 1799) replaced the dial and case, he changed the pivoted detent escapement and what was almost certainly a 'double T' balance for a spring detent and a 'Z' balance - indeed, Arnold no. 43 which may be found in the Patek Philippe Museum [inventory S-706], has a 'double T' balance. Subsequent to the publication of Vaudrey Mercer's book in 1972, the present watch has often been confused with Arnold's marine timekeeper, also numbered 45, the latter having served on board HMS Providence. 

Born in Cornwall, John Arnold (1736-1799) is one of England’s most famous and important watchmakers. Initially apprenticed to his father, a Clockmaker from Bodmin, John Arnold almost certainly worked for a time as a gunsmith with his Uncle, William (see Vaudrey Mercer, John Arnold & Son, p.4). In the mid 1750s, John Arnold travelled to Holland where he continued work as a watchmaker’s assistant and it is here that he learnt German which doubtless proved a great asset in his later connections with King George III'’s court. In 1762 he moved to London and shortly thereafter presented a repeating watch mounted on a ring to King George III. The watch created a sensation and was widely reported upon with details included in the "Annual Register" for 1764 and the "Gentleman’s Magazine" of the same year. It has been suggested by several researchers, including Cedric Jagger in his book Royal Clocks, that John Arnold was encouraged by King George III to "enter the 'longitude' arena" and make an accurate timekeeper for use at sea. Arnold’s first attempt at a marine timepiece was completed in 1768 and presented before the Board of Longitude in 1770. Arnold realised that a detached escapement would be highly desirable and this led him to invent his early detached escapement in c.1770, followed by his spring detent (which bears his name) in c.1782. To overcome isochronal variation, Arnold took out a patent for a helical spring in December 1775 and used this with his 'double T' and 'double S' balances. In 1787 he took his son, John Roger Arnold, into partnership, changing the business name to 'Arnold & Son', which was retained until his death. A detailed examination of the life and work of John Arnold is given in Vaudrey Mercer’s definitive work on the maker entitled John Arnold & Son, published by the Antiquarian Horological Society in 1972.