Fine English silver open faced pocket chronometer Circa 1801

Silver pocket chronometer by John Roger Arnold
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A fine English silver open faced pocket chronometer, circa 1801. Gilt finished chain fusée movement, Arnold spring detent escapement with the detent set into the top plate, bimetallic Z balance with compensation weights, finely engraved balance cock and foot, blued steel helical spring with diamond endstone. White enamel dial, Roman numerals, blued steel spade hands and subsidiary seconds. Plain case. Case numbered 1760 and stamped with casemaker’s initials ‘DW’ and London date letter for 1801, dial and movement signed and numbered.
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Diameter: 54 mm
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Signed: Arnold – Jn. R. Arnold London Inct et Fecit
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Made by the celebrated John Roger Arnold (1769-1843) the son of John Arnold, one of the most famous British watch and clock makers. In 1783, John Roger started working with his father before moving to Paris as an apprentice to Abraham-Louis Breguet in 1792. He was admitted as a member of the Clockmaker’s Company in 1796 and became Master in 1817. After the death of John Arnold senior, John Roger continued the business under ‘Arnold & Son’, maintaining his father’s reputation of one of the leading watch and clock makers of his epoch. In 1830 he moved to 84 Strand and started a flourishing ten years partnership with E.J. Dent, during which the two associates were undertaking various experiments, especially in regard to the influence of magnetism on chronometers. When Dent left in 1840, Arnold continued on his own until his death in February 1843 after which Charles Frodsham immediately purchased the commerce which prospered until 1858 under the name of Arnold and Frodsham. Arnold Senior’s inventions comprise the helical balance spring for chronometers and a detent escapement similar to the modern chronometer escapement. To this day he is considered one of the leading chronometer makers of all times.