Important Watches, Pocket Watches and...

Noga Hilton Hotel, Nov 13, 2005

LOT 90

Thomas Mercer, Ltd. St. Albans, England, No. 19851. Made in 1952. Fine mahogany two-day marine chronometer with Volet balance.

CHF 3,000 - 4,000

EUR 2,000 - 2,600 / USD 2,300 - 3,000

Sold: CHF 3,450

C. Brass bowl with threaded glazed bezel gimballed in two-body mahogany box with glazed panel in the top under a hinged lid with a catch, gimbal ring locked by a swiveling arm, two-body mahogany outer carrying box. D. Silvered with radial Roman numerals, outer minute track, subsidiary seconds at 6 o'clock, power reserve indicator at 12 o'clock. Blued steel "spade" hands. M. 82 mm., gilt brass full plate with recess for the mainspring barrel, circular pillars secured by screws, fusee and chain, 13 jewels, detachable Earnshaw spring-detent escapement, bimetallic ovalizing Volet compensation balance with freesprung white metal helical balance spring with terminal curves, four cylindrical temperature adjustment weights, two mean time adjustment nuts, jeweled to the third wheel. Dial and movement signed, case with a plate engraved ?supplied by C.L. Malmsjö Södra Hamngatan, Goteborg?. Height 16 cm., width and depth 18 cm.


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Grading System
Grade: A

Good
Case: 4-16-22

Fair

Rusted

Later original
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-5-01

Good

Poor

HANDS Original

Notes

The Volet balance consists of an arm made from one metal, usually Invar, and the rim from another, usually steel. The difference between their thermal expansion coefficients causes the rim to assume an elliptical shape when subjected to temperature changes. It appears that the American company Hamilton was the first to use this type of balance in chronometry with exceptional results: daily variations not exceeding 1/50 sec.