Important Wristwatches, Watches & Clocks

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 17, 1992

LOT 92

John Arnold & Son, London, Invenit et Fecit, No. 37/127, circa 1792.

Very rare and fine early octagonal marine chronometer. Two part solid octagonal mahogany box, with hinged glazed lid and a lock to secure the lid, the winding hole in the bottom is brass lined and protected by a rotatable escutcheon plate, with eccentric hole for the key and without a return spring. The dial of engraved brass, with Roman numerals, outer Arabic minute ring and subsidiary seconds. Blued steel pear hands. The movement held by the front plate, adjusted into a hole in an octagonal wooden board lined with red velvet, by three screws. Brass full plate movement with turned pillars, the back plate held by recessed blued steel screws, fusee with maintaining power, all the pivots with screwed jewelled settings including endstones, except those of the fusee arbor, endstones also fitted for both escape pinion arbor and balance staff pivots, diamond endstone on the balance cock. Typical Arnold spring detent escapement, sunk on the back plate. John Arnold two armed "Z" balance, free sprung blued steel helical balance spring. Signed and numbered on the back plate and on the dial with a subsidiary monogram "JRA" in the seconds ring. In very good condition. DIal diam. 110 mm. Dim. 10x16 cm.