Important Collectors Watches, Pocket ...

Geneva, May 10, 2009

LOT 248

Deck Chronometer with Arnold Spring Detent Escapement Grant, Fleet Street, London, No. 2041. Made circa 1795. Very fine and extremely rare, large gilt-metal, pair-cased pocket and deck chronometer with Arnold?s spring detent escapement, fine eccentric enamel dial and the original fitted mahogany deck box with brass ring for wall mounting.

CHF 7,500 - 13,000

USD 6,500 - 11,000 / EUR 5,000 - 8,500

Sold: CHF 14,400

C. Outer: two-body, ?consular?, polished, concealed hinge. Inner: two-body, ?bassine?, polished, master mark AG. D. White enamel, signed ?Henderson 24? on the reverse, secured by two small screws, eccentric chapter ring with radial Roman numerals, outer minute divisions and Arabic five-minute numerals, bisecting large subsidiary seconds. Gold spade hands. M. 49 mm., matte gilt, cylindrical pillars, large aperture for the balance staff, fusee and chain, the barrel with detachable plate with two screws, Harrison?s maintaining power, Arnold escapement with spring footeddetent, brass bracket with screw for adjusting the depth of the detent, brass escape wheel, the impulse roller with unusually shaped recess, jeweled discharge roller, cut bimetallic compensation balance with two arms, peripheral gold temperature adjustment screws, balance and escape wheel pivots jeweled in screwed chatons, lower fourth wheel pivot jeweled for the seconds, blued steel flat balance spring, index regulator. Dial and movement signed and numbered, underside of the balance cock punched ?I.R?, dial plate numbered 25, reverse of dial signed ?Henderson 24?. Diam. 62 mm. with outer case.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3-8

Good

Slightly scratched
Movement: 3-19*

Good

Dent(s)

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

Good

HANDS Original

Notes

Only a very small number of watches by John Grant are known to exist and no two are the same. No marine chronometers are extant. Grant was one of the pioneers of the lever escapement and subsequently most of his watches are fitted with this escapement. Far fewer, as with the present watch, are fitted with Arnold?s spring detent escapement. The present watch is very interesting because is was obviously intended for maritime use, the fact that it is fitted in a gilt metal case rather than gold confirms this. Only watches that were intended for practical service at sea were cased in this manner and a gilt metal case is not automatically, as is sometimes suggested, a sign of later replacement. The mahogany deck box appears to be original and is certainly of the same period as the watch. Grant, in common with other watchmakers, was very concerned with improving the rate of watches and the unusually shaped recess in the impulse roller of this watch is likely to be part of some experimentation to this end.
John Grant Was apprenticed to his famous uncle, Alexander Cumming, and became a Freeman of the Clockmakers? Company in 1781. He was probably the last of the band of English experimenters with the lever escapement and his work is of the very highest quality. Grant died in 1810 and was succeeded by his son, also called John. Both traded from 75 Fleet Street.