English gold watch with Moresque foliate decoration Circa 1860

Gold full hunter chronometer 
–
A very fine and rare English 18K gold hunting cased pocket chronometer with free-sprung footed spring detent escapement, circa 1860. Accompanied by the original Losada fitted box. Made for a member of the Spanish Royal family, the case with London hallmarks for 1860-1861. The case with master mark AS for Alfred Stram, entirely engraved with Moresque foliate decoration, the front cover with central engraved initials YF beneath the Bourbon crown. Hinged gold cuvette with foliate engraving.
–
Foliate engraved silver dial with radial Roman hours, subsidiary seconds at 6 o’clock, the inner and outer borders with applied gold cast leaf decoration and blued steel fleur-de-lys hands.
A frosted gilt movement, half-quarter plate, fusee and chain, jewelled to the third wheel in screwed settings, footed spring detent escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance, free-sprung blued steel helical balance spring, diamond endstone, foliate engraved cock. Movement signed.
–
Diameter: 50 mm
–
Signed: Losada London
–
The present watch has survived in particularly good condition. It was sold to a member of the Spanish Royal family as attested to by the engraved crown of the Bourbon Kings engraved above the initials. J.R. LOSADA, born in Iruela, Léon, Losada, was attached to the Spanish court but emigrated to London in 1835 for political reasons. He worked for James Moore before establishing himself first on Euston Road and later on Regent Street. From there, he carried on a specialized trade in very fine quality timepieces, many of which were exported to Spain.
–
For merit in his art, he was awarded the Cross of Charles III and the Order of Comendador de Numero of Isabella the Catholic by Queen Isabella II. The business was continued after his death by his nephews José and Miguel Rodriguez de Riego until about 1890. David Glasgow, the author of the well-known and valuable treatise, Watch and Clockmaking (London 1885 and 1807), spent a part of his career working for Losada. Without a royal warrant in England, Losada nonetheless described himself on his trade card as “Maker to all the crowned heads of Europe”.