English 18K yellow gold open faced pocket watch Circa 1830

Gold open faced key winding duplex watch
–
A fine English 18 carat yellow gold open faced pocket watch made by Richard Ganthony, with the movement dating to circa 1830 and housed in a later London hallmarked case from 1867. It features a mechanical key winding, gold plated movement with a rare jewelled duplex escapement, a traditional chain and fusee system, and a fine diamond endstone, signed Richard Ganthony. The later two piece white enamel dial shows black Roman numerals for the hours, an outer minute track, a subsidiary seconds dial at 6 o’clock, and classic blued steel spade hands.
–
The timepiece is housed in a heavy, substantial round two body, 18 carat solid yellow gold open faced case featuring a finely engine turned reverse back cover with a central vacant shield cartouche, a delicately fluted caseband, a sturdy round suspension bow, and a gold plated inner dust protection cap with a single winding aperture, signed Richard Ganthony.
–
Diameter: 54 mm
–
Weight: 145 g
–
Signed: Richard Ganthony
–
Richard Ganthony was a highly respected London horologist who served as Master of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers in 1821 and operated from Cheapside and Lombard Street during the early 19th century. The duplex escapement was a sophisticated, high precision English mechanism favoured for top tier watches of the period. It offered superior accuracy over standard lever or verge escapements but required exceptional craftsmanship to produce. It was common in 19th century English horology to recase high grade movements, preserving a master watchmaker’s prized precision movement in an updated solid gold case.