Important Watches, Collectors’ Wristw...

Hotel Noga Hilton, Nov 14, 2004

LOT 25

John Taylor, Rochdale, Liverpool, with Chester hallmarks for 1892-93. Very rare and fine silver, keyless stopwatch capable of measuring intervals as short as 1/16 of a second.

CHF 2,000 - 2,500

EUR 1,300 - 1,600 / USD 1,600 - 2,000

Sold: CHF 4,600

C. Four-body, ?pomme?, polished with engraved cartouche on the back, silver, hinged cuvette. D. Off-white, radial Roman numerals, outer minute divisions, outermost 1/16 of a second divisions with radial Arabic markers, sunk subsidiary seconds. Gold ?spade? hands. M. 49 mm, frosted gilt 3/4-plate, 17 jewels, 60° lateral counterpoised lever escapement, three-arm gold balance, flat balance spring.Dial and movement signed.Diam. 59 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 - 01

Notes

The watch is based on a patent by William Williams of Bury of March 26, 1890 for an escapement that ?beats ten, twelve, or sixteen times a second?. He added one wheel to the standard train, placed the escape wheel in the center and employed an extremely fast balance, which in the present watch beats 57,600 times per hour. It was not until sixty years later that the industry caught up, producing watches as fast for sports events.