Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P...

Hong Kong,the Ritz Carlton Hotel,harbour Room, 3rd Floor, Jun 02, 2007

LOT 249

?Very Early Keyless Pull-Wind? Viner & Co., Inventors, 233, Regent Street & Royal Exchange, London, No. 3210. The case with London hallmarks for 1824-1825. Fine 18K gold and enamel keyless pull-wind watch.

HKD 30,000 - 40,000

USD 4,000 - 5,300 / EUR 3,000 - 4,000

C. Three body, ?bassine et filet?, by Louis Comptesse (master mark), engineturned, pull-wind button on the pendant. D. White enamel with radial Roman numerals, outer minute track, eccentric subsidiary seconds at 4 o?clock. Blued steel ?Breguet? hands. M. 42 mm., gilt brass, Lepine caliber with standing barrel, cylinder escapement, plain steel three-arm balance, blued steel flat balance spring, index regulator, Viner's pull wind device by means of the flat cap, set on the pendant, winding when pulled outwards and to be pushed back manually. Movement signed, case punched with master mark L.C. Diam. 48 mm. Property of a Italian Collector


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 3-15

Good

Slightly rusted
Movement: 3-9*

Good

Scratched

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-43-01

Good

HANDS Original

Notes

This watch belongs to the group of early keyless watches with ?pump-winding?. The earliest English patent (No.1970) for a pump-winder was granted to Robert Leslie on December 13, 1793, in November 1814, Edward Massey of London was granted patent No. 3854 for the invention of a push-winding system. The present watch in principle uses the system invented by Joseph Berollas of London, Berollas?s system used a chain which was expensive to make and vulnerable to breakage, Viner?s system improved on this by using a push-rod, the only disadvantage is that the push-button has to be manually returned to its original position rather than springing back as in the Berollas system. For illustrations and discussion of the various early pump-wind systems see: Patek Philippe, Geneve, Huber & Banbery, 1993, p. 41-43.

Charles Edward Viner (1788-1875) Was an eminent maker. He was apprenticed in 1802 to Thomas Savage, the inventor of the so-called Savage escapement. He became free of Clockmaker?s Company and was made a Liveryman in 1819. Between 1824 and 1835 he was in partnership with Hoskins. Viner is known for his excellent craftsmanship ; some of the best British carriage clocks were made by him.