Important English gold repeating chronometer Circa 1782

Half quarter dump repeating chronometer by John Arnold
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An extraordinary and important English gold half-quarter dump repeating pocket chronometer of  ‘The Best Kind‘, circa 1782. Gilt full plate movement with Arnold short spring detent, free-sprung OZ balance, gold helical spring, decoratively pierced and engraved balance cock, turned pillars. White enamel dial, Roman numerals, outer Arabic minute ring, and subsidiary seconds divided into 75. Consular case engraved with flowers and foliage, engraved musical instruments to the back within an ovoid reserve, pulse piece to the band at 8 o’clock, the back opening to reveal a plain polished fixed cuvette with winding aperture, case with maker’s mark ITP for John Terrill Painand. Movement signed John Arnold London, Inv. et Fecit No. 39/88.
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Diameter: 75 mm
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Signed: John Arnold London Inv. et Fecit No. 39/88
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John Arnold refers to Arnold no. 39/88 as the ‘The Best Kind’. The movement is one of only a handful that exist with their original short spring detents and it is the earliest form of spring detent that Arnold used. No.39/88 is the only Arnold with the short spring detent to retain its original case. Arnold reserved the term for ‘The Best Kind’ for his large chronometers. Whereas ‘The Second Kind’ was reserved for watches of smaller size and had an entirely new number series.
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Arnold did fit a pivoted detent to a series of chronometers up until 1782-83.
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The movement has an OZ balance which Arnold used from 1782-1791 however, it may have started with a ‘double S’ balance. The dial is the traditional layout, the seconds ring is divided into 75. The escapement unlocks every other beat of the balance, allowing the hand to fall consistently on each division, leading to a more accurate reading.