English 18K gold chronometer with power reserve Circa 1865

Gold pocket chronometer by Charles Frodsham
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A very fine, rare English 18 carat gold pocket chronometer with power reserve indication, Hallmarked London 1865-1866. Presented to Captain William Watts of the steamer Lady Wodehouse by the Underwriters for the seamanship displayed by him on 24th & 25th January 1875. Frosted gilt 3/4 plate movement, jewels in screwed chatons, fusee with chain and maintaining power, spring footed detent, Earnshaw’s chronometer escapement, freesprung cut bimetallic compensation balance with gold meantime and temperature adjustment screws, blued steel helical balance spring, diamond endstone. Fixed gold cuvette engraved Presented to Capt.n William Watts by the Underwriters of The Steamer Lady Wodehouse as a mark of their appreciation of the seamanship displayed by him on 24th & 25th January 1875. White enamel dial with Roman numerals, outer minute track, subsidiary seconds, power reserve indication and original blued steel pear hands. Case engine turned with polished borders, reeded band, mastermark TH. Dial and movement signed.
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Diameter: 48.5 mm
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Signed: Chas Frodsham 84 Strand AD.Fmsz  03210 London
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The 843 ton steamboat ‘Lady Wodehouse’ was built in 1865 for the British and Irish Steam Packet Company, known as the B&I, founded in 1836. It is not recorded what the act of seamanship displayed by Captain Watts entailed, however, the ship evidently survived the ordeal and operated until 1897 when she was broken up.