NORTHERN GOLDSMITHS CO NEWCASTLE | A VERY RARE AND FINE GOLD HUNTING CASED KEYLESS ONE-MINUTE TOURBILLON WATCH 1918, NO. 2051

Movement: gilded three-quarter plate, lever escapement mounted within a one- minute tourbillon carriage with steel three-arm cage, ruby endstone, with Sydney Beattey first style tourbillon, signed and numbered The Northern Goldsmiths Co, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne., 2051Dial: cream enamel Willis-type, Arabic numerals, outer minute ring, blued steel spade hands, signed The Northern Goldsmiths Co, NewcastleCase: 18ct gold full hunter, plain polished covers, gold olivette with protective shoulders, hallmarked London 1918, maker’s mark NG Co for The Northern Goldsmiths Co, glazed cuvette, gold pendant and bow

Crott's Schmelzer, April 1980

Reinhard Meis, Das Tourbillon, 1986, p.225 & 351, pls. 282-283

Dial: in good condition Case: light scuffs throughout Movement: running at the time of cataloguing.
"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."

Rienhard Meis in his book Das Tourbillon, accounted for eight pieces by The Northern Goldsmith's company. The present lot is featured on Page 225. According to Meis, all of these watches featured carriages supplied and finished by the extraordinarily talented but short-lived Sydney Better from Clerkenwell, and only between 1917 and 1922. The workmanship of a tourbillon was so costly and time-consuming that generally it was only undertaken in relatively small series, particularly following the great financial depression when money for such projects was more scarce. Sydney Better also tended to work alone so his output was very small. He made two different types of tourbillon, either "Better 1" with three-arm carriage and double-armed bridge, such as the present watch, and "Better 2" with straight carriage arms and eccentric balance.

He died in poverty shortly after his contract with  the Northern Goldsmiths was terminated.


The off-white enamel dial of the present watch is also  the recognisable creamy colour and style of Frederick Willis, renowned for his high quality dials and cases that were supplied to the best English watchmakers for their most prestigious pieces.

See, Watches, by Cecil Clutton & George Daniels, third edition, pages 79 & 108.