English gold repeating chronograph with tourbillon Circa 1917
- Kenmerk
- SB0690
- Diameter
- 64 mm
- Estimate
- € 100.000 - 200.000
- Price sold
- € 147.500
Gold minute repeating split seconds chronograph with one minute tourbillon
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An English gold open faced minute repeating split seconds chronograph watch with one minute tourbillon and 60 minute register by Charles Frodsham & Co., circa 1917. Presented to Thomas Cochran by John Pierpont Morgan, 27 South Molton Street, London. First quality gilt 3/4 plate movement with double roller lever escapement and free sprung regulation, Guillaume balance with spiral blued steel balance spring and over coil, the tourbillon with ‘Nicole Nielsen’ Type 2 three armed polished steel tourbillon carriage, the back plate further mounted with ‘Nicole Nielsen’ polished steel chronograph work. Gold cuvette engraved ‘From John Pierpont Morgan to Thomas Cochran to mark the occasion of his entering the firm of J.P. Morgan & Co., January 1, 1917’. Willis type ‘best Venetian tint’.
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Enamel dial, Roman numerals, the outer rings calibrated for minutes and the outermost ring divided into fifths, blued steel spade hour and minute hands, gold and blued steel chronograph hands, with a pair of large subsidiary dials positioned at 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock indicating constant seconds and 60 minute recorder. Massive scalloped crystal case with five knuckle hinges, turning pendant, case back engraved with monogram ‘TC’ (Thomas Cochran). Case, dial and movement signed, the case further hallmarked, London 1917 and stamped with case maker’s mark HMF for Harrison Mill Frodsham, the turning pendant marked ‘London’ and stamped with maker’s mark ‘C.H.’. Comes with a Certificate of Origin dated 21 August 2013 from Charles Frodsham & Co., Ltd., confirming manufacture in 1917. The certificate further notes that the movement was supplied by Nicole Nielsen & Co. Further accompanied by a colour facsimile of the original Invoice, dated April 3rd, 1918 listing the purchase price of £200 and a photocopy of a letter dated April 18th 1918 from Frodsham’s to J. Pierpont Morgan regarding details of the delivery of the watch to Morgan in New York.
An English gold open faced minute repeating split seconds chronograph watch with one minute tourbillon and 60 minute register by Charles Frodsham & Co., circa 1917. Presented to Thomas Cochran by John Pierpont Morgan, 27 South Molton Street, London. First quality gilt 3/4 plate movement with double roller lever escapement and free sprung regulation, Guillaume balance with spiral blued steel balance spring and over coil, the tourbillon with ‘Nicole Nielsen’ Type 2 three armed polished steel tourbillon carriage, the back plate further mounted with ‘Nicole Nielsen’ polished steel chronograph work. Gold cuvette engraved ‘From John Pierpont Morgan to Thomas Cochran to mark the occasion of his entering the firm of J.P. Morgan & Co., January 1, 1917’. Willis type ‘best Venetian tint’.
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Enamel dial, Roman numerals, the outer rings calibrated for minutes and the outermost ring divided into fifths, blued steel spade hour and minute hands, gold and blued steel chronograph hands, with a pair of large subsidiary dials positioned at 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock indicating constant seconds and 60 minute recorder. Massive scalloped crystal case with five knuckle hinges, turning pendant, case back engraved with monogram ‘TC’ (Thomas Cochran). Case, dial and movement signed, the case further hallmarked, London 1917 and stamped with case maker’s mark HMF for Harrison Mill Frodsham, the turning pendant marked ‘London’ and stamped with maker’s mark ‘C.H.’. Comes with a Certificate of Origin dated 21 August 2013 from Charles Frodsham & Co., Ltd., confirming manufacture in 1917. The certificate further notes that the movement was supplied by Nicole Nielsen & Co. Further accompanied by a colour facsimile of the original Invoice, dated April 3rd, 1918 listing the purchase price of £200 and a photocopy of a letter dated April 18th 1918 from Frodsham’s to J. Pierpont Morgan regarding details of the delivery of the watch to Morgan in New York.
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Diameter: 63.5 mm
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Thickness 29 mm
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Signed: Chas Frodsham by appointment to the King 27, South Molton Street, London, AD.Fmsz 09682
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The present watch is a well preserved example of the Charles Frodsham/J.P. Morgan Caliber Tourbillon watch. No.09682 is one of approximately 25 pieces that were commissioned by John Pierpont Morgan to be given as gifts. This particular piece was given to Thomas Cochran III (1871-1936) upon becoming a partner at the firms of J.P. Morgan & Co. and Drexel & Co. The full presentation inscription on the cuvette is particularly unusual. The detailed inscription differs from most other known Morgan watches, whereby the cuvette is simply engraved with ‘J.P.’ Morgan’s initials, the gift recipient and the year.
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The firm’s tradition of purchasing pocket watches made by Charles Frodsham began in 1854 when Junius Morgan moved to London to set up his bank. Three generations of Morgans (Junius, J. Pierpont and Jack) purchased approximately 50 Frodsham pocket watches for themselves and as gifts from 1854 until 1934. It became a tradition in the Morgan family to present such fine timepieces to employees and partners to recognize their outstanding contributions to the business or to the Morgan family.
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Nicole Nielsen & Co. produced a number of very fine tourbillon carriages for the great English watch and clockmaking firms of the period. Charles Frodsham, S. Smith & Son and Dent were all supplied with tourbillons as well as chronographs and repeating movements.
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Thomas Cochran III was born in St. Paul, Minnesota to parents Thomas Cochran Jr. and his wife, Emilie (née Belden Walsh). After attending Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts and graduating from Yale in 1894, Cochran quickly became a highly successful businessman by founding his own investment firm, Ardsley Hall Co. in 1904. Cochran became Vice President of the Astor Trust Co. in 1913 and immediately following Cochran became President of the Liberty National Bank of New York in 1914. However, his greatest professional achievement was becoming the partner of J.P. Morgan & Co. and Drexel & Co. in 1917.
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In addition to Cochran’s achievements in the financial world, he was also an active philanthropist. He was appointed to the Board of Trustees of Phillips Academy in 1923. He spent the next several years expanding the campus, both physically and academically. In particular, he funded the creation of the Addison Gallery of American Art and donated his personal collection of 50 Winslow Homer paintings to the school.
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Today the Charles Frodsham Company in London continues to make first quality precision timekeepers. Receiving a Frodsham & Co. watch from the Morgan Family was one of the highest honours one could achieve. Only people with the utmost integrity and dedication would have received such a gift and the tradition continues at J.P.Morgan today.
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For similar tourbillons by Charles Frodsham, see R. Meis, Das Tourbillon, 1986, p. 345 and V. Mercer, The Frodshams,1981, p. 216.
Diameter: 63.5 mm
–
Thickness 29 mm
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Signed: Chas Frodsham by appointment to the King 27, South Molton Street, London, AD.Fmsz 09682
–
The present watch is a well preserved example of the Charles Frodsham/J.P. Morgan Caliber Tourbillon watch. No.09682 is one of approximately 25 pieces that were commissioned by John Pierpont Morgan to be given as gifts. This particular piece was given to Thomas Cochran III (1871-1936) upon becoming a partner at the firms of J.P. Morgan & Co. and Drexel & Co. The full presentation inscription on the cuvette is particularly unusual. The detailed inscription differs from most other known Morgan watches, whereby the cuvette is simply engraved with ‘J.P.’ Morgan’s initials, the gift recipient and the year.
–
The firm’s tradition of purchasing pocket watches made by Charles Frodsham began in 1854 when Junius Morgan moved to London to set up his bank. Three generations of Morgans (Junius, J. Pierpont and Jack) purchased approximately 50 Frodsham pocket watches for themselves and as gifts from 1854 until 1934. It became a tradition in the Morgan family to present such fine timepieces to employees and partners to recognize their outstanding contributions to the business or to the Morgan family.
–
Nicole Nielsen & Co. produced a number of very fine tourbillon carriages for the great English watch and clockmaking firms of the period. Charles Frodsham, S. Smith & Son and Dent were all supplied with tourbillons as well as chronographs and repeating movements.
–
Thomas Cochran III was born in St. Paul, Minnesota to parents Thomas Cochran Jr. and his wife, Emilie (née Belden Walsh). After attending Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts and graduating from Yale in 1894, Cochran quickly became a highly successful businessman by founding his own investment firm, Ardsley Hall Co. in 1904. Cochran became Vice President of the Astor Trust Co. in 1913 and immediately following Cochran became President of the Liberty National Bank of New York in 1914. However, his greatest professional achievement was becoming the partner of J.P. Morgan & Co. and Drexel & Co. in 1917.
–
In addition to Cochran’s achievements in the financial world, he was also an active philanthropist. He was appointed to the Board of Trustees of Phillips Academy in 1923. He spent the next several years expanding the campus, both physically and academically. In particular, he funded the creation of the Addison Gallery of American Art and donated his personal collection of 50 Winslow Homer paintings to the school.
–
Today the Charles Frodsham Company in London continues to make first quality precision timekeepers. Receiving a Frodsham & Co. watch from the Morgan Family was one of the highest honours one could achieve. Only people with the utmost integrity and dedication would have received such a gift and the tradition continues at J.P.Morgan today.
–
For similar tourbillons by Charles Frodsham, see R. Meis, Das Tourbillon, 1986, p. 345 and V. Mercer, The Frodshams,1981, p. 216.
Signed: Chas Frodsham by appointment to the King 27, South Molton Street, London, AD.Fmsz 09682
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