Important Collectors’ Watches, Pocket...

Geneva, Oct 14, 2007

LOT 423

"Large Pocket Chronometer" James Nardin, Locle, No. 8407. Made for the American market, circa 1860. Very fine and rare, large, 18K gold, hunting-cased pocket chronometer with pivoted detent, gold wheel-train and interesting presentation inscription.

CHF 4,000 - 6,000

EUR 2,500 - 3,700 / USD 3,300 - 5,000

Sold: CHF 5,664

C. Four-body, "bassine et filet", engine-turned covers with polished borders, the interior of the front cover with engraved inscription, reeded band. Hinged gold cuvette with engine-turned border. D. White enamel with radial Roman numerals, outer minute track, large subsidiary seconds. Gold "spade" hands with blued steel tips. M. 46 mm., 21''', maillechort, bridge caliber, jeweled to the center, gold wheel-train, chronometer escapement with pivoted detent, cut bimetallic compensation balance, blued steel Breguet balance spring, index regulator. Dial, case and cuvette signed. Diam. 60 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3-13-15

Good

Slightly damaged

Slightly rusted
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-43-01

Good

HANDS Original

Notes

The inscription engraved inside the front cover of the present watch reads: Testimonial, Presented to Captain John Smith of the propeller Daniel S. Miller, for rescuing the passengers at the burning of the Steamboat Isaac Newton, Dec. 5th, 1863. Committee: J.L. Douglass; David Quackenbush; C.J. Sprague; W.C. Prime; J.J. Ryan; R.A. Reading; Daniel Drew. The burning of the steamboat "Isaac Newton" was an event that caused much consternation. An account of it was given in the "Harper's Weekly" of December 19, 1863.

James Nardin (James Nardin-Perret)

Born in 1814, he was a first cousin of Ulysse Nardin. He worked in the Chaux de Fonds under the name of James Nardin-Perret, Perret being his wife's name. He was granted a U.S. patent (No. 93,735) in 1869 for a self-winding watch and deposited a marine chronometer at the Neuchatel Observatory in 1873 and the company won a Gold Medal for horology at the Paris Universal Exhibition in 1878. His son, also called James Nardin, continued the business after his father's death in 1885.