Thistles and Ribbons” Hunt & Roskell

“Thistles and Ribbons” Hunt & Roskell, 15 New Bond St. , London, No. 12524. The case by Alfred Stram with London hallmarks for 1869. Very fine, half hunting-cased, keyless, ruby, emerald and rose diamond-set, 18K yellow gold and enamel pocket watch, made for the Indian market. Four-body, "bassine et filets", front cover with rose diamond-set radial Roman numerals in a green guilloché enamel reserve, inner minute track, outer ring set with diamonds and rubies, bezel and back rim decorated with champleve enamel thistles and ribbons, the back applied with a diamond-set monogram with the letters "H" set with rubies and "A" with emeralds, outer ring set with rose diamonds and emeralds. Hinged gold cuvette. White enamel with painted radial Roman numerals, outer minute track, subsidiary seconds dial. Blued steel "double spade" hands. Notes Hunt & Roskell The firm was begun by the famous gold and silversmith Paul Storr. In partnership with John Mortimer and John Samuel Hunt, he added the retailing of clocks and watches to his activities of selling gold and silver plate and jewelry in their New Bond Street premises. On December 31, 1838 the partnership was dissolved, business being continued by Mortimer with J.S. and J. Hunt as Mortimer & Hunt at 156 New Bond Street. In 1843 Mortimer retired, being replaced by Robert Roskell. The firm continued as Hunt & Roskell until they were bought by J.W. Benson in 1866. They also had premises in Manchester. The company made watches f