English gold watch with ruby cylinder escapement Circa 1825

CHF 4,000 – 6,000 / EUR 2,500 – 3,800 – Sold: CHF 5,310 / Euro 3,350
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Gold full hunting cylinder watch
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A very fine and rare English 18K gold, an early keyless pocket watch with ruby cylinder escapement, circa 1825. Unusual temperature compensation, the case by Thomas Hardy with London hallmarks, circa 1825. Engine-turned, reeded band. Hinged gold cuvette. Gold dial with engine-turned centre and outer border, painted radial Roman numerals, subsidiary seconds. Blued steel pear hands, the minute hand secured by a screw.

Gilt brass three-quarter plate movement with cylindrical pillars, free-standing barrel passing through the backplate and secured by a bridge, ruby cylinder escapement, plain polished steel three-arm flat-rim balance, flat blued steel balance spring with unusual bimetallic compensation curb on the index regulator, early Prest keyless winding system, patented in 1820. Movement signed.
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Diameter: 52 mm
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Signed: John-Roger Arnold  London
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In 1820, Thomas Prest obtained a patent No. 4501, for a keyless winding watch, it was described as follows: “A New and Additional Movement applied to a Watch, to enable it to be wound up by the pendant Knob without any Detached Key or Winder ” John-Roger Arnold, therefore, came to some arrangement with Thomas Prest and straightaway in 1820, they proceeded to produce a series of lovely watches with ruby cylinder escapements, going barrel, compensation curb, flat steel balance and the new Prest keyless winding mechanism.