English gold watch with Earnshaw’s spring detent escapement Circa 1867

Gold chronometer pocket watch 
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A very fine and rare English, 18K yellow gold pocket chronometer, circa 1867. With special Catherine Wheel dial and Earnshaw type spring detent escapement and duo in uno balance spring. The case is made by Frank Bennett with London hallmarks for 1867. A polished and engine turned case, back with monogram. Hinged gold cuvette. White enamel dial with baton hour and minute divisions, subsidiary seconds. Blued steel Baton hands. A frosted gilt, half-plate movement, jewelled to the third in screwed Chaton, fusee and chain, Harrison’s maintaining power, Earnshaw type spring detent escapement, gold escape wheel with end-stones in screwed Chaton, diamond endstone, cut bimetallic compensation balance with gold and platinum timing screws, free-sprung blued steel duo in uno balance spring. Movement signed.
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Diameter: 53 mm
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Signed: Howell, James & Co.  London
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Howell, James & Co., 1819-1911 Jewelers and silversmiths of Regent Street, London. Founded as silk mercers and retail jewelers, they rapidly expanded, employing a staff of over 100 by 1865. Noted for their variety and quality of stock, including items by designers and students of the South Kensington School, they exhibited in London in 1851 and 1862; in Paris in 1867; and at London in 1871 and 1872 when they showed jewellery by C. Eastlake, M. Wyatt, F. Leighton and L.F. Day. From 1876, Howell, James & Co. held a series of popular exhibitions of ceramics painted by amateurs.
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The company’s 1878 Paris Exhibition stand was designed by L.F. Day, who also contributed designs for Aesthetic Movement clocks along with the architect Thomas Harris. The firm stocked silver goods by J. Dixon & Co., Dresser’s Linthorpe Pottery and Brannam Pottery from 1880 to 1889, when their employee, J. Llewellyn, moved to Liberty & Co. taking exclusive selling rights with him. The premises were reconstructed in 1881, incorporating art pottery galleries, where they held an exhibition of architectural faience made by Brumantofts to M.B. Adams designs.