Fine silver chronometer watch with power reserve Circa 1899

Large silver pocket chronometer deck watch
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A fine and large English silver open faced chronometer with power reserve indication, hallmarked London 1899. Full plate gilt keywind fusee movement, Harrison’s maintaining power, plain cock with diamond endstone, free-sprung compensation balance with helical blue steel hairspring, Earnshaw spring detent chronometer escapement, screwed in jewelling, escape pivots with endstones. Signed white enamel dial with subsidiaries for seconds and power reserve, Roman numerals and blue steel hands. Substantial, plain case with gold hinges. Maker’s mark F.T. in an oval.
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Diameter: 64 mm
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Depth: 15 mm
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Signed: A. Ericsson St. Petersburg
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A fine example of a late full plate chronometer deck watch in excellent condition. Although signed for St. Petersburg the watch is almost certainly of English manufacture, probably by Kullberg who is said to have supplied all his chronometers. August Ericsson, 1842-1910, opened a workshop in St. Petersburg, Russia about 1875. He supplied marine chronometers to the Imperial Russian Navy. He often used movements from chronometer maker Victor Kullberg, also from Sweden, who set up business in England in 1856. Celebrated casemaker Fred Thoms moved to 41 Spencer Street, Clerkenwell in 1889.