Rare English 18 Carat gold small precision pocket watch Circa 1818

Gold open faced pocket watch by John R. Arnold
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A rare, small English precision pocket watch made by John Roger Arnold, circa 1818.
18 Carat gold engine turned case with reeded band and case maker’s punch mark “TH” (Thomas Hardy). Gold dial with engine turned centre, raised radial Roman hours on a chased ground and blued spade hands. Full plate movement, key wind, fire gilt, signed, with chain/fusee, gold screw compensation balance, English lever escapement, engraved regulator scale with a long blued index hand and chatoned diamond endstone on balance.
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Diameter: 45 mm
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Weight: 97 g
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Signed: John R. Arnold, London
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John Roger Arnold, English watchmaker
John Roger Arnold was born on February 13, 1769 to John Arnold . At the age of 14 (1783) he began a 7 year apprenticeship with his father, which he later continued with his friend – Abraham-Louis Breguet from 1792 to 1793 in Paris. Before that, he worked in his father’s factory. In 1787 he becomes a partner in this company, which from then on signs their watches with John Arnold & Son.

In 1796 Arnold was appointed master of the Clockmakers Company. The father dies in 1799, John Roger Arnold now takes over the sole management of the manufacture and maintains the high level of his father’s watchmaking. In 1821 he received a patent for a compensation balance. In 1830, John Roger Arnold began a ten-year partnership with Edward John Dent. Dent then went into business for himself in London in 1840. After Arnold’s death, Charles Frodsham took over the company.

John Roger Arnold was married to Anne but this marriage had no children, but around 1811 John Roger became the adoptive and teacher of Charles Wilson Arnold, which was actually his name Charles Willson. She was the son of Jane Arnold’s sister. Charles Wilson Arnold died on May 6, 1829.

John Roger Arnold died in 1843 without any descendants. His company was taken over by Charles Frodsham , who traded under Arnold & Frodsham after 1843 and manufactured first class chronometers under the Arnold label.