Important Watches, Wristwatches and C...

New York, Omni Berkshire Place Hotel, Jun 20, 1998

LOT 80

George Graham, London, No. 795, with London hallmarks for 1750. Very fine 22K gold pair cased, quarter repeating watch with cylinder escapement.

USD 10,000 - 12,000

C. Double body outer, the bezel pierced with scrolling foliage and repousse with rocaille decoration, the back repousse with a mythological scene depicting Aeneas leaving Dido, with rocaille surround and foliate pierced and engraved border. Inner bassine, the band pierced and engraved with a mask an scrolling foliage. D. White enamel with Roman numerals and outer Arabic minute ring. Blued steel "poker and beetle" hands. M. Hinged gilt brass full plate with turned pillars, fusee with chain, cylinder escapement, plain steel three-arm balance, flat balance spring, gilt brass cock pierced and engraved with an winged angel's head and scrolling foliage. Gilt brass dust cap. Signed on the dust cap and back plate. Dian. 47 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 2-8

Very good

Slightly scratched
Movement: 2*

Very good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 23-51

Later

Partially reprinted

Notes

George Graham (1673-1751) In 1688 he became apprentice to Henry Aske for seven years.He was admitted a freeman of the Clockmaker's Company in 1695 and immediately entered the service of Thomas Tompion. In 1696 he married Tompion's niece Elizabeth. After the death of Tompion in, 1713, Graham continued the business at the same address , at the sign of Dial and Three Crowns, at the corner of Water Lane, in Fleet Street, London. hr 1720 he moved to a new house, The Dial and One Crown, on the other side of the same str eet, nearer Fleet Bridge, where he remained until his death. Graham was elected as Fellow of the Royal Society in 1721 and chosen as Member of the Council of that body in 1722. He contributed 21 papers on various subjects to the Philosophical Translations. He became Master of the Clockmaker's Company in 1722. After the expiration of Booth, Houghton and Tompion's patent, Graham devoted some thought to the cylinder escapement, which in 1725 he improved to practically its present form, and after 1726 introduced it into all his watches. For pendulum clocks he invented the dead-beat escapement in 1715 and the mercury pendulum in 1726.