English astronomical chronograph with full calendar Circa 1890
- Kenmerk
- AD6246
- Diameter
- 54 mm
- Estimate
- € 20.000 - 30.000
- Price sold
- € 22.500
Gold full hunter made for the Indian market by Benson
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A very fine and heavy English 18K gold and enamel hunting cased astronomical chronograph lever pocket watch with a full calendar and moon phases, circa 1890. Specially made for Maharaja Jaswant Singh II, the ruler of Jodhpur.
The case front is engraved with the name of the owner, centred with its champlevé enamel painted coat of arms, the reverse with a polychrome enamel portrait of the Maharaja framed with horse racing scenes, pusher for chronograph at 12. Gold dome. Signed white enamel dial, radial Roman hours, auxiliary seconds, subsidiary dials for indications of the weekdays, the months and the date, moon age indicator, cobalt blue enamelled gold moon phase disc with gold moon and stars and blued spade hands. Frosted gilt 4/5 plate movement with screwed chatons, English lever escapement, gold screw compensation balance and signed J.W. Benson 25 Old Bond Street London – By Special Warrants to H.M. the Queen and H.N.H. the Prince of Wales.
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Diameter: 54 mm
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Weight: 151 g
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Signed: J.W. Benson 25 Old Bond Street London
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Benson comes from an English watchmaking family whose company has existed since 1749. Benson called off in 1865 as a watchmaker of the Prince of Wales. At that time, the product range of this well-known company included pocket watches of all types and complications, pocket and marine chronometers with works by Victor Kullberg, Mercer, Hector Golay, Marc Plojoux and Usher & Cole and clocks and tower clocks. An example of this is the Portsmouth Town Hall clock. Arthur H. and Alfred Benson later succeeded him. Today the Benson company is part of the Asprey Group.
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Maharaja Jaswant Singh II was the ruler of Jodhpur from 1873 until 1895.
Signed: J.W. Benson 25 Old Bond Street London


































