John Arnold & Son, London

• Movement: gilded full plate, spring detent escapement, decoratively pierced and engraved balance cock with blued steel stud arm, 'Z' balance, blued steel helical spring, diamond endstone, signed John Arnold & Son, London, Invt. et Fecit, No. 471/772
• Dial: white enamel, Roman numerals, outer minute ring, subsidiary seconds, blued steel spade hands, numbered 471
• Case:  plain gold consular case, the back opening to reveal fixed cover with winding aperture, inner and outer backs both hallmarked London, 1802 and with maker's mark DW incuse for Daniel Webb

Sotheby's Geneva, 13th November 1990, lot 427

Hans Staeger, 100 Years of Precision Timekeepers from John Arnold to Arnold & Frodsham, 1763-1862, 1997, pp. 181-182

Movement running at time of cataloguing and appears to be in clean condition. Dial with light semi-circular hairline at the edge of the dial between 6 and 7 o'clock, some light scratches, otherwise in good 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."

The movement of this watch is signed with the partnership name John Arnold & Son, which was in use from about 1787. This is a typical small chronometer from the 4^th series which were termed "Of the Second Kind"; within this series, the fractional numbers to the backplate differ from one another by 301. If the movement was finished in order with the rest of the series, it would have been completed around 1794. It is possible that it remained in stock and was completed after the series was finished, or was completed in sequence and a new case fitted by Arnold some eight or so years later; the owner may, for example, have wished to upgrade from a silver to a gold case. The design of the case follows the general pattern of those in the series although is arguably rather finer and more substantial.