WATKINS; ALEXANDER
England;
ca. 1850

Chronometer pocket watch. Key wound. 750/- yellow gold; laquered and engraved dial; blued hands. Total weight: 18;5g; with case jacket 43;5g. D.ca. 2;6cm.

Movement and dust cover are signed. Case embossed JW (presumably Joseph Walton). Enclosed: delicately chased original case jacket of silver; embossed WN.

Made for the occasion of the 1851 Crystal Palace Exhibition/London and promoted as the 'world's smallest chronometer'. With origibal case; on the inside cover of which the watch's history can be read. A museum piece.

The years 1844 and 1881 mark the most prolific period of watchmaker Alexander Watkins' work.

Provenance:
Sotheby's London; June 9; 1977; Lot 232
Time Museum; Rockford/USA; Inventory No. 1338
Sotheby's New York; October 13-15; 2004; Lot 660
Since 2004: private collection

Literature:
See A.G. Randall; The Time Museum Catalogue of Chronometers; Rockford 1992; Cat.No. 153.


Condition C: (M) 4;5;27;28 (D) 5;6 (C) 3-4;5;6
Art trade; Van Ham.