Important Watches, Wristwatches and C...

New York, Omni Berkshire Place Hotel, Jun 20, 1998

LOT 79

Josiah Emery, London, No. 299, circa 1775. Fine and extremely rare, 22K gold pair cased, half skeletonised, minute repeating watch.

USD 20,000 - 24,000

C. Double body outer, by Peter Goujon (Master mark), the bezel chased with interlaced decoration, the back chased with an urn, foliage and further rocaille decoration, the border pierced and chased with decoration matching that of the bezel. Inner double body, the back engraved with a rosette in a sunburst pattern, the band pierced with scrolling foliage. D. White enamel chapter ring with Roman numerals. Gold "poker and beetle" hands. M. Hinged gilt brass full plate with turned pillars, fusee with chain, cylinder escapement, plain steel three-arm balance, flat balance spring, gilt brass cock pierced and engraved with scrolling foliage, diamond endstone. Repeating on a bell, the repeating train with gilt brass fixed barrel with revolving arbor, the polished steel minute repeating work visible through the dial. Gilt brass dust cap. Signed on the dust cap and back plate. Diam. 48 mm.


LOADING IMAGES
Click to full view
Image

Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good

Case: 2

Very good

Movement: 2*

Very good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense

Dial: 27-32-52

Custom-made

Slightly restored

Reprinted by the manufacture

Notes

Fine example of a very rare early minute repeating watch by an eminent maker. Josiah Emery (c. 1725-1797) Josiah Emery was a Genevan watchmaker who set up in England at 33 Cockspur Street, Charing Cross, London. Honorary member of the Clockmakers Company in 1781 he made very fine cylinder watches, but became famous as the first watchmaker in the world after Thomas Mudge to produce a watch with a lever escapement. He made about thirty six lever watches between 1782 and 1795. He also used the pivoted detent escapement for precision watches. Louis Recordon succeeded him in 1797. Three of Emery's lever watches were i mported into France and served as a model for Robert Robin for a series of precision watches that he produced at the end of the 18th century. One of these watches was shown to Louis Berthoud who used the escapement several times, attempted to impr ove it but finally abandoned it in favour of the pivoted detent escapement Between 1792 and 1796, Emery submitted four chronometers to the Board of Longitude, but received no encouragement. During a visit to Geneva, he studied the wellknown chronometer made by Demote & Magnin and corrected an error in the escape wheel.