Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P...

Hong Kong,the Ritz Carlton Hotel,harbour Room, 3rd Floor, Nov 25, 2006

LOT 99

"Arnold-Type Spring Detent Chronometer" (Paul Philip) Barraud, Cornhill, London, No. 180. Made in 1798, the case with London hallmarks for 1818-1819. Fine and rare, 18K gold, pocket chronometer with Arnoldtype spring detent escapement and dead subsidiary seconds.

HKD 100,000 - 130,000

USD 13,000 - 17,000 / EUR 10,000 - 13,000

C. Three-body, "consular", polished, fixed cuvette. D. White enamel, radial Roman numerals, outer minute divisions, subsidiary seconds dial with Arabic four-second numerals. Yellow gold "pear" hands. M. 43 mm., hinged, gilt brass, full plate, ringed cylindrical pillars, 8 jewels, three in screwed chatons, fusee with chain, Harrison's maintaining power, Arnold's spring detent escapement beating 18,000 beats per hour, detent set in a slot cut in the back plate, cut bimetallic compensation balance with internal and external temperature and meantime adjustment screws, free-sprung blued steel helical balance spring with terminal curves, diamond endstone, foliate engraved cock. Dial and movement signed. Diam. 53 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 3-25

Good

Chipped
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 2-67-01

Very good

HANDS Original

Notes

The present watch was supplied by George Jamison (active 1786- 1810) who was one of the makers engaged to supply Barraud with chronometers. Jamison's association with Barraud ended around 1798 or 1799. This watch was apparently fitted with an upgraded balance in 1818, at which time a new case was also made and a new dial fitted - probably because the original was signed Jamison. Provenance: Time Museum, Rockford, Illinois, illustrated and described in their catalogue by Anthony G. Randall pp. 70-71. Paul Philip Barraud
An eminent British maker, in 1796 he entered into partnership with William Howells and George Jamison, to make chronometers based on Mudge's original design. Howells, who had been Mudge's junior worker and had been dismissed, brought with him important technical knowledge. To reduce production costs, they decided to use a single balance spring and Arnold's "Z" balance with helical balance spring.