English chronometer with pivoted detent escapement Circa 1860

Gold pocket chronometer by José Rodríguez Losada
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A fine, English pocket chronometer with pivoted detent escapement, circa 1860.
18-Carat gold engine-turned case with reeded band, gold dome with engraving, and case maker’s punch mark JT. Enamel dial with radial Roman hours, auxiliary seconds, and blued Fleur de Lys hands. 3/4 plate movement, keywind, frosted, gilt, signed, with screwed chatons, chain/fusee, and screw compensation balance, freesprung blued helical balance spring.
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Diameter: 52 mm
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Weight: 111 g
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Signed: J. R. Losada, London
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José Rodríguez Losada (1797-1870)
Losada was born in Iruela in the province of Leon, Spain; in his youth, he spends some time at the court of Madrid. He left Spain for political reasons and travelled to England to start a workshop near Euston Road in London. Losada produced a number of high-quality chronometers and watches he sold at home as well as to Spain and South America. In 1835 Losada opened up a grand showroom at 105 Regent Street. Losada never cut his ties with his native Spain and when he won a prize in 1864, he supplied 36 chronometers to the Spanish government through the Royal Observatory at Cádiz. The “Horological Journal” of 1878 reported that these were “very fine clocks and almost every conceivable variety of complicated watches and repeater, perpetual calendars and chronographs, and some excellent chronometers, fine watches, astronomical and carriage clocks”. Losada died in 1870, but his business continued to operate at Regent Street until about 1890.