English fine silver deck watch with power reserve Circa 1884

Silver deck watch with power reserve
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A fine silver English open faced explorer’s keyless deck watch with power reserve, crown protection, and deck box, circa 1884, gilded three-quarter plate movement, lever escapement, bimetallic compensation balance, diamond endstone, fusee and chain, signed To The Queen, Lund and Blockley, 42 Pall Mall, London.
White enamel dial, Roman numerals, blued steel spade hands, subsidiary seconds, up and down indication for state of wind below 12 o’clock, signed Lund and Blockley to the Queen, London.
Silver, plain screw down case back and bezel, winding crown with a screw down protective cover with short safety chain, case back with maker’s mark P.W. in an oval cameo for Philip Woodman, wooden hinged deck box with viewing lid, lock and key.
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Diameter: 59 mm
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Signed: To The Queen Lund and Blockley 42 Pall Mall London
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Herbert Blockley sold these “Travellers” watches from the late 1870s until about 1925. Their special cases, with screw down back and bezel, as well as the protective crown cover, meant that they were highly resistant to the ingress of dirt and moisture. This robust construction meant that they were ideal watches for use on expeditions, and the Royal Geographical Society purchased approximately 28 pieces from Lund and Blockley and their successor. The Society lent these watches to their members primarily for Polar and African expeditions.
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The ebauche of the present watch was supplied by the Lancashire Watch Company and was then most likely completed (as most were) for Lund and Blockley by Usher and Cole. A similar, although somewhat later watch, signed Herbert Blockley, was formerly in the Time Museum.