Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Hong Kong, Jul 09, 2016

LOT 138

J. W. BENSON HUNTING CASED FREE-SPRUNG MINUTE REPEATER GOLD J.W. Benson, 62 & 64 Ludgate Hill, London, By Warrant to H.M. The Late Queen Victoria, No. 2598. The case by Frederick Thoms with London hallmarks for 1896. Very fine and rare, hunting-cased, keyless, minute- repeating, 18K gold pocket watch.

Four-body, "bassine," polished, by Frederick Thoms (case maker's mark FT), swivel bow. Hinged gold cuvette. White enamel with bold radial Roman numerals, outer minute track, subsidiary seconds dial. Blued steel spade hands. 43 mm.(19'''), 3/4-plate, pillar plate and bridges gilded, 17 jewels, lateral counterpoised lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance with gold temperature adjustment screws, blued steel free-sprung Breguet balance spring. Repeating on gongs by activating slide on the band.