Important Collectors' Wristwatches, P...

New York, Mar 10, 2010

LOT 382

HARWOOD SILVER PATENTED SELF-WINDING WATCH Harwood- Self-Winding Watch Co Ltd. No. 51915. Case hallmarked Glasgow 1929. Fine, tonneau-shaped, self-winding, sterling silver wristwatch with patented hand-setting mechanism. To be sold without reserve

USD 400 - 600

EUR 300 - 450 / CHF 450 - 650

Sold: USD 1,020

C. Three-body, solid, polished, reeded revolving bezel for setting hands, solid wire type lugs. D. Silvered, guilloche, Roman numerals with outer minute track, aperture for the wind/hand setting indication at 6. Blued steel Breguet hands. M. 10 1/2''', Patent No.106583, rhodium-plated, oeilde- perdrix decoration, 15 jewels, straight line lever escapement, cut bimetallic balance, 2 adjustments, flat balance-spring, rotor ?à butoirs?. Dial, case and movement signed Dim. 30 x 38 mm. Height 11 mm. From The Arman Collection


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 3-9

Good

Scratched
Movement: 3**

Good

Repair required, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-01

Good

HANDS Original

Notes

John Harwood, an English watchmaker, founded the Harwood Watch Co. in the 1920?s. He is credited with developing the first self-winding mechanism for wristwatches, patented in 1924. Harwood?s mechanism used a small weight inside the watch that bumped back and forth, ratcheting a gear that powered the watch. The internal winding combined with a bezel-operated hand setting system, eliminated inaccuracy caused by dust and moisture entering through the winding shaft. His bumper movement was the foundation for the later highly successful Rolex Oyster Perpetual wristwatch. Harwood watches were produced from 1929 until 1931, when the company failed.