English split seconds minute repeating watch Circa 1884

Gold split seconds minute repeating chronograph watch
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A very fine and very rare English manual winding, 18k yellow gold, open faced split-second, chronograph pocket watch with minute-repeating, circa 1884, gilded frosted three-quarter plate movement, lever escapement, bimetallic compensation balance, diamond endstone, steel chronograph work.
White enamel dial, Roman numerals, one sunken subsidiary dial for constant seconds, outer ring for minutes and 1/5 chronograph seconds, all hands blued steel except contrasting gold and blued steel split seconds, signed Howell & James, London.
Gold case, monogram at the back, gold split chronograph pusher and handset button with Olivette to the band, recessed repeating slide, winding crown depressing for chronograph activation, bow, case, cuvette, pendant and bow hallmarked for 18ct gold.
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Diameter: 53 mm
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Signed: Howell & James, London
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With monogram. 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 jewelry 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.

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.