Important Watches, Collectors Wristw...
Hotel Noga Hilton, Nov 14, 2004
LOT 30
William Williams, 32 Rock St., Bury, No. 1914, hallmarked 1890-91. Very rare and fine silver, keyless stopwatch capable of measuring intervals as short as 1/16 of a second.
CHF 3,000 - 5,000
EUR 2,000 - 3,000 / USD 2,500 - 4,000
Sold: CHF 2,875
C. Four-body, ?bassine et filets?, polished, silver, hinged cuvette. D. Off-white, radial Roman numerals, outer minute divisions, outermost 1/16 of a second divisions with radial Arabic numerals, subsidiary sunk 1/16th 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.
| Grading System | |
|---|---|
Grade: AA |
Very good |
Case: 3 |
Good |
Movement: 3* |
Good Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense |
Dial: 3 - 6 - 01 |
Notes
William Williams of Bury took out a patent on March 26, 1890 in England for an escapement that ?beats ten, twelve, or sixteen times a second?. He added one wheel to the standard train, placed the escape wheel where the seconds hand is located and employed an extremely fast balance, beating 57,600 times per hour.