English gold and diamond set lady’s pendant watch Circa 1865

Gold and diamond set keywound cylinder pendant watch
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An exquisite English 18 carat gold and rose cut diamond set lady’s pendant pocket watch, retailed by Royal Warrant holder C.F. Hancock, 39 Bruton Street, London, circa 1860-1870. It features a mechanical key wound gilded brass bar construction movement with a cylinder escapement, blued steel screws, and a regulator index, protected beneath a solid gold inner cuvette hand engraved C.F. Hancock 39 Bruton St., London. The gold dial has hand engraved floral scrollwork, Roman numerals, a minute track, and blued steel Breguet style hands. The 18 carat gold open faced case has an outer bezel channel set with rose cut diamonds, a reverse back cover pavé set with rose cut diamonds, and a diamond set spherical pendant with a tapered suspensory loop. Stamped internally with matching serial number.
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Diameter: 23 mm
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Weight: 16.7 g
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Signed: C.F. Hancock London
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C.F. Hancock, founded by Charles Frederick Hancock in 1849 at 39 Bruton Street, Mayfair, London, was one of Victorian Britain’s most prestigious royal jewellers and silversmiths. Formerly a senior partner at Storr & Mortimer, Hancock held Royal Warrants from Queen Victoria and many European royal courts. Most famously, in 1856, Queen Victoria personally commissioned C.F. Hancock to design and manufacture the Victoria Cross, Britain’s highest military decoration for valour.
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This lady’s timepiece represents the pinnacle of Victorian high jewellery horology (bijouterie de haute horlogerie). Intended to be worn as a brooch or pendant, the entire reverse, bezel, and suspensory loop are lavishly set with rose cut diamonds. With matching serial numbers and the famous 39 Bruton Street address, this piece exemplifies exquisite custom craftsmanship supplied to Hancock’s aristocratic clientele during the mid Victorian era.