Important Collectors Wristwatches, P...
New York - The Fuller Building, Dec 07, 2006
LOT 344
So-called ?Jones Caliber? International Watch Co., Schaffhausen, No. 1345, case No. 1673. Made circa 1871. Very fine, rare, and historically important, early, huntingcased, keyless, 18K yellow gold pocket watch with an early ?H? Grade ?Jones? caliber inscribed ?Craig New York? and long lever escapement.
USD 8,000 - 10,000
EUR 6,300 - 8,000
C. Four-body, "bassine", solid, triple-hinged, engine-turned covers, monogrammed front, gold cuvette with peripheral engine-turning. D. White enamel with painted radial Roman numerals, outer minute track, subsidiary sunk seconds dial. Blued steel ?Breguet? hands. M. Cal. 19''', so-called ?Jones? cal., grade ?H?, nickel, "fausses côtes" decoration, 19 jewels, balance top jewel in screw-mounted gold chaton, straight line counterpoised long lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance adjusted to heat and cold, blued steel Breguet balance spring, index regulator. Dial and case signed, movement signed ?Craig New York? and engraved: ?Elson?s Patent ? Sept. 15th 1868?. Diam. 53.5 mm.
| Grading System | |
|---|---|
Grade: AAA |
Excellent |
Case: 3-14-16 |
Good Damaged Rusted |
Movement: 3-9* |
Good Scratched Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense |
Dial: 3-48-01 |
Good HANDS Original |
Notes
The present lot in its 18K gold case, made in 1871 with serial No. 1345, is one of the earliest IWC pocket watches, created within the firm?s 3rd year of production and most probably the oldest one in existence with this high quality caliber. It is estimated, that a total of 1,440 ?Jones? movements were fabricated with their wealth of advanced technical features. A similar watch is in the IWC Museum, bearing the later serial No. 1410. IWC produced the movements in batches and for every 100 ?Jones? calibers made, only 8 carried the ?Craig? nomination. According to sources, Craig was the name of IWC founder Florentine Ariosto Jones? mother. The movements were made in different grades and the ?H? marking seems to characterize the number of jewels, which could be a maximum of 20. Utilizing IWC?s patented stem winding and featuring a long-lever escapement, the movement further carries the inscription ?Elson?s Patent ? Sept. 15th 1868?.This refers to a safety mainspring with a special attachment similar like a safety pinion, disconnecting in the event of the spring?s breakage to prevent damage to the gear train.