Exceptional Discoveries: The Olmsted Complications Collection
Viner, New Bond St., London
A yellow gold open-faced consular-cased quarter repeating watch with alarm, No. 626, Circa 1818
No reserve
Lot Closed
December 10, 06:05 PM GMT
Estimate
5,000 - 7,000 USD
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Read more.Lot Details
Description
Movement: gilt Verge full-plate movement, two-train movement, alarm and repeating on gongs, diamond endstone, highly jeweled, signed Viner Patentee, New Bond Strt, & Royal Exchange, London, No. 626
Dial: white enamel dial, Roman numerals, recessed subsidiary dial for constant seconds, blued steel hand for alarm, signed Viner, Patentee, London
Case: 18k yellow gold engine-turned case, alarm setting button at 6 o'clock, case with London hallmarks for 1818, numbered 626 and stamped with casemaker's initials LC
Signed: dial and movement
Diameter: 55 mm
A distinguished watchmaker, Charles Edward Viner was apprenticed in 1802 to Thomas Savage, the inventor of the notable "Savage escapement." He gained his freedom of the Clockmakers' Company and was elected a Liveryman in 1819.
He traded from several prominent London addresses, including 233 Regent Street, 1 Royal Exchange, and a retail outlet at 151 New Bond Street.
Viner is also credited with developing an improved version of Berollas’ chain-winding system. His pump-winding mechanism employed a push-rod rather than a lever, simplifying the action. The only limitation of Viner’s design was that the push-button required manual return, unlike the Berollas system, which reset automatically via a spring.