Important English open faced pocket chronometer Circa 1782

Silver chronometer by John Arnold
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Important English open faced pocket chronometer, Hallmarked London 1782. John Arnold chronometer movement, plate completely signed, Invenit et Fecit No. 38/76, spring detent escapement, helical hairspring, diamond endstone, very early OZ balance. White enamel dial with Roman numerals and blued steel hands. Plain silver case, case maker’s mark ITP. Comes with a mahogany box and matching keys. Movement and dial signed and numbered.
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Diameter: 62 mm
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Weight: 177 g
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Signed: John Arnold London – John Arnold London Inv. et Fecit
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This watch is not yet registered in the list of known Arnold chronometers. John Arnold is regarded as the most important English chronometer maker and manufacturer of the first pocket chronometer. John Arnold made about 94 pocket chronometers ‘of the Best Kind’ at that time, and 37 are still registered as existent (in addition to the present chronometer No. 76). Of these 38 chronometers, about three quarter are affected by more or less major changes in their originality (e.g. no Arnold escapement or balance, no original dial, no original case, etc.). This Arnold chronometer belongs to less than ten chronometers ‘of the Best Kind’ by John Arnold which can be regarded as almost original and unchanged! In Hans Staeger’s ‘100 years precision watches from John Arnold to Arnold &. Frodsham 1763-1862’ the Arnold Chronometer No. 75 is presented with the note that it is probably the 1st Arnold Chronometer with an OZ balance. Number 76 can be considered the second earliest known Arnold chronometer with this balance.

The last beautifully preserved and historically significant comparable Arnold Chronometer (20/63) was auctioned for € 143.900,-.