American 18K rose gold hunting cased lever watch Circa 1930

Rose gold fine full hunter
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An American 18 carat rose gold hunting cased pocket watch, 1930. Retailed by Barret & Sherwood in San Francisco, U.S.A. The lever movement with a special regulating device and compensation balance. White enamel dial with black Roman hours, an outer minute track, outermost red Arabic five minute numerals, a sunk center, subsidiary seconds at 6 o’clock and blued spade & whip hands. An intricately engraved, monogrammed case, the inside case back with the initials J.F.C. Dial signed, case numbered, movement signed and numbered.
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Diameter: 50 mm
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Weight: 115 g
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Signed: Barret & Sherwood, San Francisco
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Barret & Sherwood. Robert Sherwood (1827-1893) and Samuel Barrett († 1860) founded the San Francisco establishment of Barrett & Sherwood in 1852. They were among the first to engage in the jewellery business.

Sherwood was born in Londonderry, Ireland. He came to San Francisco in March 1850 and started working in the mines of Calaveras County but soon found that he was not cut out for a miner. He returned to San Francisco and opened a jewellery store on Clay Street. After a few months he formed a partnership with Samuel Barrett. According to the 1860 obituary of Barrett, he was a pioneer in the jewellery business in San Francisco and was held in high esteem by a very extended circle of acquaintances throughout California.

In 1853, the firm exhibited a selection of their gold-quartz work at the World’s Fair in New York. 

After his partner died, Sherwood worked under his own name until the 1865 directory listing, where he took up the Barrett & Sherwood name again. According to the Langley directory listing for 1888 Barret & Sherwood were Importers and Manufacturers of Jewellery and Diamonds, and agents of American Watches at 140 Montgomery, William James Sherwood was mentioned as running this business. Perhaps William was Robert’s son.