English astronomic Grande Complication pocket watch Circa 1884

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Kenmerk
AC0460
Diameter
69 mm
Estimate
€ 60.000 - 125.000
Price sold
€ 68.200

Rare astronomical gold hunter with 14 complications by Charles Frodsham
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An important, rare and very heavy 18K gold English astronomic trip minute repeating gold hunting cased Grande Complication pocket watch with 14 complications, circa 1884. One of the most impressive pocket watches ever made in England, London, with the extract from the archives. Highly complicated Frodsham lever movement, diamond endstone and free-swinging hairspring, tandem winding, and with 14 complications: 1. Grande Sonnerie; 2. Petite Sonnerie; 3. mute; 4th & 5th trip minute repeater; 6. chronograph; 7. 60-minute counter; 8 to 12 perpetual calendar taking into account the length of the month and leap years; 13th moon phase and 14th moon age. Signed and numbered enamel dial with Roman radial hours, outer minutes/seconds track with Arabic five minutes/seconds numerals, centre seconds, and blued steel pear hands. Polished 18K gold case with London Hallmarks from 1884. Case and movement with matching number 6989 AD.Fmsz (best quality made by Frodsham).
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Diameter: 69 mm
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Weight: 449 g
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Signed: Charles Frodsham
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According to research, this is the most complicated watch by Frodsham.
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Pocket watches with 14 complications are absolutely rare. Particularly noteworthy are, besides the Grande & Petite Sonnerie, the Trip-Minute-Repeater, as also found in Patek Philippe watches, and especially, the central 60-minute counter for the chronograph. With almost 450 grams, it is one of the heaviest ‘Grande Complication’ pocket watches ever made.
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Charles Frodsham was one of the most important English chronometer makers. In 1830, he handed in a marine chronometer for testing at the Royal Greenwich Observatory and achieved a second prize. Frodsham was a member of the Royal Society from 1834. He took over the company John Arnold & Co in London in 1843. Frodsham was vice-president of the British Horological Institute for a time and became a member of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers in 1845. In 1854 he was appointed Royal Court Watchmaker and Purveyor to the Court. A year later, he was Master of the Clockmakers Company.

Signed: Charles Frodsham

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