Property of a Prestigious Family Collection
872
Charles Frodsham
An extremely well-preserved, attractive and important gold keyless half-hunter minute repeating, perpetual calendar, double chronograph pocket watch with phases of the moon and double-roller lever escapement
- Estimate
- HK$160,000 - 320,000€18,900 - 37,800$20,500 - 41,000
HK$330,200
Lot Details
- Manufacturer
- Charles Frodsham
- Year
- Circa 1883 and 1912
- Movement No
- 06205
- Case No
- 06205
- Material
- 18K yellow gold
- Calibre
- Manual, cal. 21’’’ gilt three-quarter plate, fully jewelled with double-roller lever escapement
- Dimensions
- 59mm diameter
- Signed
- Dial and movement signed and numbered, case hallmarked London 1912 and stamped with casemaker's mark “HMF” for Harrison Mill Frodsham
- Accessories
- Delivered with Charles Frodsham Certificate of Origin dated 7th October 2024 confirming the movement supplied by Audemars at a cost of £110, entered in stock in 1884.
Specialist
Full-Cataloguing
Catalogue Essay
Charles Frodsham is a highly esteemed English watchmaking company that has been influential since 1834. In 1854, Charles Frodsham succeeded Benjamin Lewis Vulliamy as the Superintendent and Keeper of Her Majesty's Clocks at Buckingham Palace, serving the King, the Prince of Wales, and Queen Alexandra. After Charles's passing, his son, Harrison Mill Frodsham, took control of the firm and incorporated it as Charles Frodsham & Co. Ltd. in 1893. Harrison proved to be a skilled horologist and businessman, ensuring the company continued to thrive as a maker of exceptional timepieces.
The present lot exemplifies the iconic craftsmanship of the Frodsham company. This remarkable grand complication pocket watch features a minute repeater, perpetual calendar, and an unusual double chronograph. At first glance, it may appear to be a split-seconds chronograph with two hands; however, it actually incorporates a central co-axial chronographic minute register—an exceptionally rare feature also found in today’s Lange & Heyne timepieces.
The watch was made in 1883, with a movement supplied by Audemars Piguet with minute repeating, perpetual calendar, moon phases and double chronograph. It either remained in stock, or more likely the case was changed in 1912 to have a half-hunter case with enamel chapter to the front cover.
The watch is kept in magnificent condition, showcasing a distinct half-hunter case with a striking enamel chapter ring for easy reading with the case closed. The hallmarks on the bow and winding stem remain unrubbed, and the pristine enamel dial is free of blemishes. Many Frodsham watches feature the coded letters "AD Fmsz" on the dials and movements, a cryptogram that traces back to 1850, symbolizing the highest quality introduced by Charles Frodsham with his new caliper watch.
The inner caseback is fully hallmarked. Having last appeared at auction nearly three decades ago, it has since remained untouched in a prominent family's collection. Today, Charles Frodsham continues to craft wristwatches of exceptional quality, with their iconic Double Impulse Chronometer achieving significant success at auctions, standing as a pinnacle of English watchmaking.
The present lot exemplifies the iconic craftsmanship of the Frodsham company. This remarkable grand complication pocket watch features a minute repeater, perpetual calendar, and an unusual double chronograph. At first glance, it may appear to be a split-seconds chronograph with two hands; however, it actually incorporates a central co-axial chronographic minute register—an exceptionally rare feature also found in today’s Lange & Heyne timepieces.
The watch was made in 1883, with a movement supplied by Audemars Piguet with minute repeating, perpetual calendar, moon phases and double chronograph. It either remained in stock, or more likely the case was changed in 1912 to have a half-hunter case with enamel chapter to the front cover.
The watch is kept in magnificent condition, showcasing a distinct half-hunter case with a striking enamel chapter ring for easy reading with the case closed. The hallmarks on the bow and winding stem remain unrubbed, and the pristine enamel dial is free of blemishes. Many Frodsham watches feature the coded letters "AD Fmsz" on the dials and movements, a cryptogram that traces back to 1850, symbolizing the highest quality introduced by Charles Frodsham with his new caliper watch.
The inner caseback is fully hallmarked. Having last appeared at auction nearly three decades ago, it has since remained untouched in a prominent family's collection. Today, Charles Frodsham continues to craft wristwatches of exceptional quality, with their iconic Double Impulse Chronometer achieving significant success at auctions, standing as a pinnacle of English watchmaking.
Provenance