Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P...

Geneva, Nov 16, 2008

LOT 648

Twelve-Minute Karrusel, the So-Called Revolving Escapement Chronometer ? Class A Kew Certificate. S. Smith & Son,Makers to the Admiralty and the Indian Government, 9 Strand, London, No. 1901-23. The case with London hallmarks for 1900-01. Exceptionally rare and historically important, large, 18K gold keyless pocket chronometer with anti-magnetic twelve-minute karrusel regulatormade under licence to the design of Bahne Bonniksen, very early two-button, four-function chronograph, 12-hour and progressive 60- minute registers, free-sprung palladium balance spring, and tachometer scale. Class A Kew Certificate gained in 1901 with 74.2 marks.

C. Five-body, ?pommes et filet?, by Samuel Smith, mastermark SS, polished, double bezel, swivel anti-theft pendant by G.J., five bar hinge. Glazed gold-rimmed cover to view the movement. D. White enamel, by master dial maker Willis, radial Roman numerals, outer minute divisions, seconds divided into fifths, outermost tachometer scale calibrated for miles per hour from quarter mile distances, subsidiary 12-hour and 60-minute register with radial Roman numerals and outer minute track, subsidiary seconds. Gold spade hands. M. 48 mm, frosted gilt 3/4-plate, jeweled to the center, jewels mostly in screwed chatons, twelve-minute karrusel platform also driving an additional seconds pinion, gold lateral counterpoised lever escapement and gold escape wheel, cut-bimetallic compensation balance with gold temperature and platinum mean time screws, free-sprung palladium double-overcoiled balance spring with Phillips? innner and outer terminal curves, diamond endstone in screwed chaton, Nicole Nielsen chronograph mechanism. Dial and movement signed and numbered, case with the same serial number. Diam. 62 mm.