English 18 carat gold lever chronometer watch Circa 1882

Pocket watch with power reserve display
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A highly refined lever chronometer with power reserve display, made by Thomas Armstrong & Brothers in Manchester, England,  circa 1882. This watch features a case crafted from 18 carat gold with a monogram on the back lid. The enamel dial features an outer minute and hour track with Roman hour numerals, a subsidiary seconds dial at 6 o’clock, a power reserve indicator at 12 o’clock and steel hands. The numbered movement is equipped with  a very fine English lever chronometer escapement and a gold screw chronometer balance wheel.
The case and movement bear matching numbers and the movement is signed.
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Diameter: 50 mm
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Weight: 115 g
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Signed: Thomas Armstrong & Brothers
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Armstrong
The history of the Armstrong horological family in Manchester centers around Thomas Armstrong & Brothers, a highly respected firm of watchmakers, clockmakers, and opticians that operated from 1825 to 1968. While they sold high quality pocket watches, their business successfully diversified into industrial timekeeping and scientific instruments.

The family’s independence concluded in 1965 when the business was absorbed by Harrisons Opticians. By that point, the legacy watchmaking side had faded and the company was primarily focused on optics. In 1968, the corporate lineage officially ended when the Harrison group was bought out by the major optical chain Dollond & Aitchison.