DESCRIPTION:
EPW - English, quarter-hour repeater with chronograph, mvt and dial marked for Alex Austin of San Francisco, California, 49mm, heavy 18K gold OF original case with red and royal blue enameled initials to rear, bearing London hallmarks for 1876 and "A N" marking in cameo for Adolph Nicole, white enamel SS dial, SW-pin-set with Adolphe Nicole's 1844 patented winding and setting system and featuring later improved version filed by his nephew David L.A. Nicole in 1855, fully capped lever escapement, at least 19J, gilt mvt, s#8492 with matching serial number within case. Gross weight of assembled watch 71.2 dwt (110.8 g). An elegant high grade repeating chronograph, we believe this watch was bespoke for Alexander Austin who was a tax collector in San Francisco at its time of production.
CONDITION:
Mvt: Running, minute hand with tendency to retract several minutes when setting pin is released, good repeat function and tone aside from hands being a bit out of index, good chronograph function apart from hand resetting slightly out of index, excellent cosmetic mvt condition overall, some scattered fine to micro-fine scratches, few mild haze spots to gilt surfaces; nearly flawless dial with few fine scratches around center, infinitesimal pinpoint surface nick to inner rim of outer chapter at 3; excellent hands; case shows little wear, some short scratches at one portion of bezel, no dents or dings, good engine turning detail, loss of red enamel to left side of monogram initials, remainder of enameling is intact with scattered surface scratches; bow pivots freely, crown shows medium wear; glass crystal with few short scratches.
ESTIMATE:
$3000
-
$3800
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