12,650 CHF
Charles Frodsham, 84 Strand, London, No. 06545, Ad. Fmsz, supplied by Nicole Nielsen & Co, London hallmark for 1882-83. Very fine 18K gold keyless hunting-cased pocket watch with split-seconds chronograph. Four-body, massive, "bassine", made by Charles Nicole and Emile Nielsen, polished, gold hinged cuvette, inscribed "W.J.A. to E.H.H., 1888". White enamel, radial Roman numerals, outer minute track, outermost seconds divided into fifths, Arabic five minutes/seconds, subsidiary sunk seconds at 9. Blued steel "spade" hands. 43 mm, (18 1/2’’’), frosted gilt, 3/4-plate, 14 jewels, mostly in screwed chatons, lateral counterpoised lever escapement, cut-bimetallic compensation balance with gold temperature and mean-time screws, double-over-coiled free-sprung Breguet balance spring with inner and outer Phillips curves, Nicole Nielsen chronograph mechanism. Signed on dial and movement, case punched with the Nicole Nielsen mark.Diam. 54 mm. Notes Charles Frodsham (1810-1871) He was the most celebrated of the Frodsham family, with its numerous watchmakers, and was a prominent maker of very high grade chronometers and watches. For the 1851 exhibition, they introduced a three-quarter plate caliber which they marked "AD.FMSZ", which continued subsequently to be put on all their highest grade work. In 1868 he devised a form of electrical contact for taking signals for chronometers. The company he founded continued after his death. From 1779 to 1850, a partnership existed betwe
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2004-04-24
