Important collector's watches, wristw...

Hotel Richemond, Geneva, Apr 13, 2002

LOT 516

John Roger Arnold, London, No. 3840, hallmarked 1826-27. Fine and unusual silver pocket watch with special regulator.

CHF 5,000 - 7,000

EUR 3,400 - 4,800 / USD 3,000 - 4,200

Sold: CHF 5,980

C. Four-body, polished, silver, hinged cuvette. D. Off-white, Roman numerals, outer minute ring. Blued steel ?spade? hands. M. 43 mm., gilt full plate, cylindrical columns, fusee and chain with Harrison?s maintaining power, 8 jewels, cylinder escapement, plain three-arm steel balance, flat balance spring, sugar tong regulator with singular bimetallic blade. Signed on dial and movement. Diam. 55 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good

Case: 3

Good

Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense

Dial: 3-17-01

Good

Slightly spotted

HANDS Original

Notes

John Roger Arnold experimented with different forms of regulators. It seems that he wished to design his own regulating system, just as Earnshaw had done with his ?sugar tong? regulator. For another of his unusual regulators, see the Professor Thomas Engel Collection, Antiquorum, Geneva, November 11, 2001. John Roger Arnold (1769-1843) The son of one of the most eminent British horologists, John Arnold, he was apprenticed in Paris to A.-L. Breguet in 1792. He was admitted as a member of the Clockmaker's Company in 1796, and became Master in 1817. After the death of his father, John Roger remained in business on his own until 1830, maintaining the reputation gained by his father as one of the foremost makers of his time. In 1830 he moved to 84 Strand and entered into a partnership agreement for ten years with E. J. Dent, during which period business flourished. Much experimental work was carried out during this period, particularly on the influence of magnetism on chronometers. In 1840 Dent left Arnold, setting up next door at 82 Strand. Arnold continued business on his own but died three years later, in February 1843. Immediately, Charles Frodsham purchased the business. Under the name of Arnold and Frodsham, the company flourished until 1858.