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A gold pair-cased pocket…
Auction House:
Auction Location:
Melbourne
Date:
22-Oct-2024
Lot No.
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Description:
A gold pair-cased pocket chronometer, no. 1347, maker George Margetts English Circa 1803 5 cm diameter, 7.2 cm high, 6.2 cm case diameter. A gold pair-cased pocket chronometer, no. 1347, maker George Margetts. English Circa 1803. Gold pair cased pocket chronometer, plain outer case hallmarked London, 1803, 18c and. maker's mark "IR". The inner case is also plain and similarly marked, and has a long pendant with a stirrup bow. The movement has a fusee and chain drive, an Earnshaw type escapement with a two-arm. bi-metallic balance and coiled helical balance spring, the cock and balance which are essentially Margetts. The back plate is signed "George Margetts London No 1347". The watch has a white enamel dial, a subsidiary seconds dial and gold hands. It is signed on. the dial "Margetts 1347" above the centre of the dial. A chronometer is a watch which has a detent escapement, or a detached escapement; it. allows the balance wheel to swing undisturbed during most of its cycle, except during the brief. impulse period. The escape wheel is locked on a jewel carried in a detent, which is a blade spring or alternatively a pivoted lever. Because the driving escape wheel tooth moves almost parallel to the pallet, the escapement has little friction and does not need oiling. The pivoted detent was developed by John Arnold around 1775 and modified by Thomas Earnshaw in 1780. Reference: Although Harrison had won the prize offered by the Admiralty for the development of the first really accurate timekeeper in 1761, it was Arnold and Earnshaw who produced chronometers commercially. There were a number of London watch makers who followed in the footsteps of Arnold and Earnshaw and were successful chronometer makers, and Margetts was one of them. George Margetts London (Cheapside) Freeman of Clockmakers Company 1779, Liveryman of the Clockmakers Company 1799 - 1808. A famous maker of the late 18th Century in the circle of English horologists experimenting with precision timekeeping, such as: Mudge, Emery, Arnold, Earnshaw, Kendal, Brockbank, Barraud, Pennington and Haley. Examples of his work can be found in the British Museum, Guildhall Museum and the Dennison Collection. Reference: Although Harrison had won the prize offered by the Admiralty for the development of the first really accurate timekeeper in 1761, it was Arnold and Earnshaw who produced chronometers commercially. There were a number of London watch makers who followed in the footsteps of Arnold and Earnshaw and were successful chronometer makers, and Margetts was one of them. Provenance: This watch was purchased from Camerer Cuss & Co on 11/10/1982 for 4,625 pounds. Norman's note: "A very elegant watch in lovely condition, plain, but good". Dimensions: 5 cm diameter, 7.2 cm high, 6.2 cm case diameter
Estimate:
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Price:
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Category:
Horology (Clocks & watches): Watches - Pocket & Fob