English gold open faced keyless lever pocket watch Circa 1908
- Kenmerk
- BB1107
- Diameter
- 47 mm
- Estimate
- € 3.250 - 6.000
- Price sold
- € 2.900
Gold gentlemen’s watch
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An English 18 carat gold open faced keyless pocket watch made by Birch & Gaydon in London, London Hallmarked for 1908. The movement with an English lever escapement. White enamel dial with bold Roman hour numerals, an outer minute track, sunk subsidiary seconds at 6 o’clock and spade hands. A polished case with monogram TG on the back and the cuvette is engraved Thomas Gardner from M.G 16th Feby. 1909. Dial, case and movement signed, and with matching numbers.
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An English 18 carat gold open faced keyless pocket watch made by Birch & Gaydon in London, London Hallmarked for 1908. The movement with an English lever escapement. White enamel dial with bold Roman hour numerals, an outer minute track, sunk subsidiary seconds at 6 o’clock and spade hands. A polished case with monogram TG on the back and the cuvette is engraved Thomas Gardner from M.G 16th Feby. 1909. Dial, case and movement signed, and with matching numbers.
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Diameter: 47 mm
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Diameter: 47 mm
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Signed: Birch & Gaydon 153 Fenchurch St London Makers to the Admiralty
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Birch & Gaydon was a London business of retail watchmakers, jewellers and silversmiths. In the 18th century, the company began as a watch repair shop, and during the 19th century, it manufactured watches.
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Birch & Gaydon was a London business of retail watchmakers, jewellers and silversmiths. In the 18th century, the company began as a watch repair shop, and during the 19th century, it manufactured watches.
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By 1900, increased competition from Switzerland and America made the traditional English craft methods of watchmaking no longer economically viable, so the business concentrated on retailing watches, jewellery and items made by others.
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The company can trace its roots back to around 1760. It was established by William Turner, a watchmaker, at 18 Cornhill in the City of London, close to the Bank of England. In 1825, Turner moved his business to 167 Fenchurch Street, London. By 1833, the business had relocated to number 173.
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William Turner died in 1839, and in 1840, the business was taken over by William Birch, born in 1815 and died aged 88 in 1903.
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Birch had the ambition to be more than just a watch repairer and became a fully-fledged watchmaker following the traditional English handcraft method. Between 1840 and 1860, he made about 30 watches a year. From 1860 to 1880, this number declined to around a dozen per annum, but rose again to around 30 from 1880 to 1900. Output fell sharply in the years after 1900 and by 1920 had ceased altogether.
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In 1874, the company relocated across the road to 172 Fenchurch Street.
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Henry Martin Gaydon had joined Birch in 1877 as a partner, naming their business Birch & Gaydon. William Birch retired from the partnership on September 29th, 1883. Birch & Gaydon, at the time of his retirement, described as chronometer makers, goldsmiths and jewellers at 172 Fenchurch Street, continued with Gaydon as sole partner. In 1904, the company moved to 153 Fenchurch Street as the premises at number 172 were being demolished.
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Ownership of Birch & Gaydon passed to Henry Gaydon’s son William, who sold the business to Asprey & Co. Ltd. in 1959. Asprey continued to use the name Birch & Gaydon for some time, referring to it as their branch in the City of London.
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Birch had the ambition to be more than just a watch repairer and became a fully-fledged watchmaker following the traditional English handcraft method. Between 1840 and 1860, he made about 30 watches a year. From 1860 to 1880, this number declined to around a dozen per annum, but rose again to around 30 from 1880 to 1900. Output fell sharply in the years after 1900 and by 1920 had ceased altogether.
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In 1874, the company relocated across the road to 172 Fenchurch Street.
–
Henry Martin Gaydon had joined Birch in 1877 as a partner, naming their business Birch & Gaydon. William Birch retired from the partnership on September 29th, 1883. Birch & Gaydon, at the time of his retirement, described as chronometer makers, goldsmiths and jewellers at 172 Fenchurch Street, continued with Gaydon as sole partner. In 1904, the company moved to 153 Fenchurch Street as the premises at number 172 were being demolished.
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Ownership of Birch & Gaydon passed to Henry Gaydon’s son William, who sold the business to Asprey & Co. Ltd. in 1959. Asprey continued to use the name Birch & Gaydon for some time, referring to it as their branch in the City of London.
Signed: Birch & Gaydon 153 Fenchurch St London Makers to the Admiralty
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