The Mondani Collection of Rolex Wrist...

Geneva, May 14, 2006

LOT 718

?Free-Sprung Minute- Repeater? J.W. Benson, London, by special warrants to H.M. The Queen & H.R.H. The Prince of Wales, 62 & 64 Ludgate Hill, No. 2281. The case by Frederick Thoms with London hallmarks for 1896. Very fine and rare, hunting-cased, keyless, minute-repeating, 18K gold pocket watch probably destined for an Observatory trial.

CHF 5,000 - 7,000

EUR 3,200 - 4,500 / USD 4,000 - 5,500

Sold: CHF 7,316

C. Four-body, "bassine", polished, by Frederick Thoms (casemaker?s mark FT), thiefproof swivel bow. Hinged gold cuvette. D. White enamel, by Willis, with radial Roman numerals, outer minute track, subsidiary seconds dial. Blued steel "Spade" hands. M. 43 mm (19'''), 3/4-plate with spotted plates, pillar plate and bridges frosted and gilded, 21 jewels, lateral counterpoised lever escapement with the lift on the pallets, cut-bimetallic compensation balance with gold temperature adjustment screws and gold mean time nuts, blued steel free-sprung double-overcoiled Breguet balance spring, diamond endstone, repeating on gongs by activating slide on the band. Dial and movement signed. Diam. 54 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

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

Good

HANDS Original

Notes

This watch is from a series of complicated pieces destined for the Kew Observatory Contests, which accounts for the unusually high standards on finishing the escapement and employing a free-sprung double-overcoiled balance spring.