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Charles Frodsham
Split-Seconds Minute Repeating Tourbillon
An historically important, well-preserved, and attractive yellow gold minute repeating split-seconds chronograph open-faced keyless pocket watch with one-minute tourbillon, 60-minute register, and enamel dial, sold to J.P. Morgan Jr.
- Estimate
- $70,000 - 140,000
$241,300
Lot Details
- Manufacturer
- Charles Frodsham
- Year
- 1916
- Movement No
- 09’637
- Case No
- 09’637
- Model Name
- Split-Seconds Minute Repeating Tourbillon
- Material
- 18K yellow gold
- Calibre
- Manual, cal. 23’’’ gilt three-quarter plate, jeweled
- Dimensions
- 63.5mm Diameter
- Signed
- Dial and movement signed and numbered, case hallmarked London 1916 and stamped with casemaker's mark “HMF” for Harrison Mill Frodsham
Full-Cataloguing
Catalogue Essay
Charles Frodsham is a highly esteemed English watchmaking firm since the latter half of the 19th century. 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. Following Charles's passing, his son Harrison Mill Frodsham took control of the firm and incorporated it as Charles Frodsham & Co. Ltd. in 1893. Harrison Mill Frodsham proved to be a skilled horologist and businessman, and the company continued to thrive as a maker of brilliant timepieces.
The present tourbillon split-seconds chronograph pocket watch, measuring a massive 63.5mm in diameter, was part of a series ordered by J.P. Morgan, Jr. between 1898 to 1934 and gifted to partners in the bank or family members. This is the 13th example to appear at auction, and a previously unknown example, while the rest are either held in private collections or remain in the possession of descendants of the original owners.
This remarkable timepiece incorporates a minute repeater, split-seconds chronograph, and a one-minute tourbillon, which the monumental movement of this watch is also featured on the official Charles Frodsham website. During their production, these watches were among the most intricate and expensive English timepieces available, retailing between £200 and £350.
According to our research, records of the purchase found in the Morgan Library of this pocket watch and its partner, numbered 09’636, were ordered together by J. Pierpont Morgan Esq on October 31st, 1916, in the midst of the Great War at a price of 200 pounds sterling each. J.P. Morgan, Jr. was instrumental in financing World War I, having extended a loan of $500,000,000 to France and England in 1915 and his financial firm acted as the official purchasing agent for the British government between 1915 and 1917, when the United States entered the war in truth.
The present tourbillon split-seconds chronograph pocket watch, measuring a massive 63.5mm in diameter, was part of a series ordered by J.P. Morgan, Jr. between 1898 to 1934 and gifted to partners in the bank or family members. This is the 13th example to appear at auction, and a previously unknown example, while the rest are either held in private collections or remain in the possession of descendants of the original owners.
This remarkable timepiece incorporates a minute repeater, split-seconds chronograph, and a one-minute tourbillon, which the monumental movement of this watch is also featured on the official Charles Frodsham website. During their production, these watches were among the most intricate and expensive English timepieces available, retailing between £200 and £350.
According to our research, records of the purchase found in the Morgan Library of this pocket watch and its partner, numbered 09’636, were ordered together by J. Pierpont Morgan Esq on October 31st, 1916, in the midst of the Great War at a price of 200 pounds sterling each. J.P. Morgan, Jr. was instrumental in financing World War I, having extended a loan of $500,000,000 to France and England in 1915 and his financial firm acted as the official purchasing agent for the British government between 1915 and 1917, when the United States entered the war in truth.