English 18K gold chronograph with regulator dial Circa 1873

Rare gold chronograph with open face by John Poole/Nicole & Capt
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A very rare, English yellow gold keyless-winding pocket watch with chronograph and regulator-type dial, circa 1873-1874.
Gilt ¾ plate movement, calibre 19, lateral lever escapement. White enamel regulator-type dial with an eccentric chapter at 12 o’clock with radial Roman numerals, central minutes with five-minute Arabic numerals, outermost chronograph scale, subsidiary seconds at 6, original blued steel hands, and one horological complication: – Chronograph (activated by the winding crown). Round-shaped 18K yellow gold polished case, No.4 769 (by A N, Adolphe Nicole, London; with London letter-date for 1873-1874). Dial and movement signed. Brand John Poole, London (57 Fenchurch Street) and model made by Nicole & Capt, London.
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Diameter: 48.5 mm
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Signed: John Poole, Nicole & Capt
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A regulator dial with a chronograph is very rare, especially in an early period. This movement includes the typically revised 1st-type Nicole keyless work (Nicole’s Great Britain patent No. 10 348 of October 1844), the first commercially successful keyless work for both going-barrel and fusee watches, as well as the heart-shaped cam controller for true, start/stop/return to zero, chronographs.
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Poole, John (1818-1867)
He established himself as a chronometer maker in 1840 and invented an auxiliary compensation that was very simple to make. He received a Gold Medal in Paris in 1867, the year he died by suicide.
His brother James worked with him, taking over in 1867 and moving to 33 Spencer Street, Clerkenwell. J.U. Poole, James’ son, continued the business.
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Nicole & Capt, London – Nicole, Nielsen & Co., London
Adolphe Nicole, initially associated with Jules Capt, was joined by the Danish-born watchmaker Emil Nielsen; the firm became Nicole, Nielsen & Co. in 1876.
The firm was the foremost London watchmaker of the second half of the 19th century, supplying many of the finest watches (chronographs, repeaters, tourbillons, etc.) to retailers such as Frodsham, Dent, Smith & Son, etc., in London, as well as Tiffany, New York, and other fine retailers around the world.