Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P...

Geneva, Nov 16, 2008

LOT 642

Pre-Patent Prototype Karrousel with Detent Chronometer Escapement S. Smith & Son,Watchmakers to The Admiralty, 9, Strand, London, "English Revolving Escapement, Chronometer", No. 239. The case with London hallmarks for 1882-3. Extremely fine, exceptionally rare and possibly unique, large, heavy, keyless 18K yellow gold pocket chronometer with prepatent Bonniksen 52 1/2 minute Karrusel with spring detent escapement, the first watch of this series.

CHF 25,000 - 35,000

USD 23,000 - 32,000 / EUR 16,000 - 22,000

Sold: CHF 28,800

C. Four-body, polished, heavy, "pomme et filet", by Frederick Thoms & Samuel Smith (master marks FT & SS). Hinged gold cuvette. D.White enamel with radial Roman numerals, outer minute track, subsidiary seconds. Blued steel spade hands. M. 46 mm, frosted gilt, half-plate, going barrel, 52 1/2 minute karrusel carriage with foliate engraved cock, jeweled Earnshaw-type spring footeddetent escapement, free-sprung cut bimetallic compensation balance, blued steel balance spring with terminal curve, diamond endstone. Dial and movement signed. Diam. 57 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 2

Very good
Movement: 2*

Very good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 1-01

As new

HANDS Original

Notes

This is almost certainly the first karrusel watch with a detent chronometer escapement; it is certainly the first watch of the famous ?No. 239? series that established the record for number of marks obtained at Kew Observatory for pocket chronometers. The absence of the Bonniksen patent number indicates the watch was made before the 1893 patent of the karrusel; it is therefore of great historical interest in the development of precision watchmaking. This watch could be termed experimental since the ?No. 239? watches did not achieve greatness until nearly 1900, whereas the present watch was certainlymade before 1893; the case bears hallmarks for 1883. It is likely that the movement was experimented on by Smith's in parallel with Bonniksen?s development of the karrusel, and was cased in a stock case,making it a ?prototype? piece. The karrusel watches immediately dominated the Kew lists of top-performing chronometers as of 1894.
Given the phenomenal results of ?ordinary? karrusels, apparently Smith's sought to develop a karrusel that achieved record marks. The present watch is the progenitor of the one that went on to achieve 88.1 marks, c.1900. Three No. 239 watches went to Kew; 239-2 (1901), 239-4 (1902 and 1903), and 239-6 (1907). The karrusel, or ?Revolving Escapement Pocket Chronometer?, is thus described in Smith?s literature: ?This watch obtained the ?Record? number of marks at Kew Observatory for a pocket chronometer, obtaining 88.1 out of a possible 100, the separate awards being 33.1 for variation of daily rate, 37.6 for changes of position, and 17.4 for temperature variation. It is hardly necessary to say that in every minute detail this watch is the perfection of watchwork. The cases are very finely made, weighing nearly 4 ozs of 18 ct gold, the dial is also of very special quality, the most careful attention having been paid to the working out of the divisions. We venture to think that this watch will remain at the top of the list of high-class English watches... we pay a bonus to our workmen according to the number of marks obtained... this watch with the Record of 88.1 has been a considerable expense to us, and the price is £105?. This watch is illustrated and discussed in the Antiquorum Vox Magazine, Spring 2008, ?Bahne Bonniksen?s Karrusel Watches?, by Richard Chadwick.