Important Collectors Wristwatches, P...
Hong Kong,the Ritz Carlton Hotel,harbour Room, 3rd Floor, Nov 25, 2006
LOT 92
"Split-Seconds Chronograph" Charles Frodsham, 84 Strand, London, No. 06314, Ad. Fmsz, supplied by Nicole Nielsen & Co. The case with London hallmarks for 1879-80. Very fine and rare, 18K gold, keyless, hunting-cased pocket watch with split-seconds chronograph.
HKD 60,000 - 80,000
USD 7,700 - 10,000 / EUR 6,000 - 8,000
C. Four-body, massive, "bassine et filet", by Charles Nicole and Emile Nielsen (master mark), polished. Hinged gold cuvette.
D. White enamel, radial Roman numerals, outer minute track, outermost seconds divided into fifths, Arabic five minutes/seconds numerals, subsidiary seconds at 9. Blued steel "spade" hands.
M. 42 mm, (18 1/2???), frosted gilt, 3/4-plate, 14 jewels, mostly in screwed chatons, lateral counterpoised lever escapement, cut-bimetallic compensation balance with gold temperature adjustment screws, double-over-coiled blued steel Breguet balance spring, diamond endstone, index regulator, Nicole Nielsen chronograph mechanism.
Dial and movement signed, case punched with Nicole Nielsen master mark.
Diam. 52 mm.
| Grading System | |
|---|---|
Grade: AA |
Very good |
Case: 3 |
Good |
Movement: 3* |
Good Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense |
Dial: 3-44-01 |
Good HANDS Original |
Notes
Was the most celebrated of the Frodsham watchmaking family, and was a prominent maker of very high grade chronometers and watches. For the 1851 exhibition, the firm introduced a three-quarter plate caliber marked "AD.FMSZ", which continued subsequently to be fitted to their highest grade work. In 1868 Frodsham devised a form of electrical contact for taking signals for chronometers. The company he founded continued after his death. From 1779 to 1850, a partnership existed between William James Frodsham (1779-1850) and William Parkinson (d. circa 1842) The firm, under the name of "Parkinson & Frodsham", was established at 4 Change Alley, London, and specialized in pocket and marine chronometers, for which a strong demand was beginning to be felt. Parkinson & Frodsham were quick to see the commercial advantage in supplying instruments for voyages of exploration, and in 1832, Frodsham published a summary of their performance in, "A Brief Account of the Chronometer, with Remarks on those furnished by Parkinson & Frodsham to the Expeditions of Captains Ross, Parry, Sabine, King, Lyon, Foster, and Other Distinguished Navigators. With the Rate of those tried at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich in the Years 1828, 29, 30, 31". Around 1847, William James Frodsham passed ownership of the business to his sons George and William. "AD Fmsz" does not indicate a year of manufacture, but the year 1850 when the firm introduced a new series of high-quality watches. The code spells out the name: F=1, r=2, o=3, etc. z=0.
The highest quality pieces were so marked. During the early 20th century, the firm was closely connected with the Nicole Nielsen firm, which made most of the movements, including some of the most perfect tourbillons ever made, and which still perform with almost unrivaled accuracy.
Some time before the mid-20th century, the company began making lever escapement and chronometer escapement watches of the very highest quality and continued to do so until the outbreak of war in 1939. Frodsham watches are always elegant and well proportioned. Even as late as 1914, some of them, with engine-turned silver dials, were worthy of Breguet. The firm, which was appointed watchmaker to the King, The Prince of Wales, and to Queen Alexandra, was responsible for maintenance and winding of all the clocks at Buckingham Palace, where they had a workshop. Frodsham?s best cases were made by his son, Harrison Mill Frodsham (1849-1922), an expert horologist who took over the firm after his father?s death.