Innovation and highest quality craftsmanship are the hallmarks of British horological history. Beginning in the 17th century, British master watchmakers were at the forefront, making major contributions in mechanical design leading to better timekeeping accuracy, a tradition that continues in the 21st century. Phillips is honored to offer this exceptional and very rare S. Smith & Son hunter-cased grande and petite sonnerie minute repeating clock watch with tourbillon.
Thomas Tompion (1639-1713) is one of the most important and influential masters earning him the moniker, “Father of English Clockmaking”. His work to improve accuracy in pendulum clocks lead to precision regulators sought after by scientists, and a vertical escapement that reduced friction and increased the reliably of clocks. Thomas Mudge (1715-1794) is another exceptional watchmaker who made a significant contribution with the development of the lever escapement, one of the most important innovations in the history of watchmaking. Patented in 1755, and further developed in the first half of the 19th century, the lever escapement is still in widespread use today. It is important to note that more than 200 years later another English watchmaker, George Daniels, made a landmark improvement to the lever escapement with his famed co-axial escapement.
At the turn of the 20th century, British watchmakers focused on the highest quality and most complicated timepieces, differentiating themselves from American and Swiss watchmakers who at the time aimed for mass production. British makers such as Charles Frodsham, Dent, J. Player & Son, and S. Smith and Son were producing some of the finest watches in the world, with many of the world’s wealthiest, such as John Pierpont Morgan, as their patrons. In fact, the Swiss would soon follow the lead of the British, beginning the production of highly complicated pocketwatches approximately a decade later.
The present S. Smith & Son clock watch from 1899 is an exceptional example of the finest in English horology and a wonderful representation of those who lead the way. Combining a grande and petite sonnerie with minute repeater, it will strike the hours and quarters automatically, as well as strike the hours, quarter and minutes on demand when activated through the slide at 7 o’clock. Measuring an impressive 60mm in diameter, the four-body, massive yellow gold hunter case features 5-knuckle joints, a turning pendant, and a raised push piece, as well as two selection levers that permit the owner to choose between Grande/Petite Sonnerie mode, or Strike/Silent.
Designed for maximum timekeeping precision, the gilt brass, three quarter plate double train movement with differential winding was made by Nicole Nielsen, one of the most respected makers of complicated movements of the era. Exquisite details, such as mirror polished steel bridges, jewels set within screwed-in gold settings, and beautiful blued steel screws, make the movement breath-taking to behold. Fitted with an extremely fine and superbly hand-finished tourbillon, with free-sprung balance and overcoil balance spring, the movement was sent for Kew Observatory testing, receiving a Class ‘A’ Especially Good certificate with 81.4 marks in 1901 – an absolutely impressive achievement for such a complicated masterpiece. Time is indicated by the wonderful white enamel dial made and signed by Willis, another master at his craft.
British horology has a rich and storied history reaching back centuries, and still leading the way today. This superb S. Smith & Son Clock Watch represents the pinnacle of early 20th century complicated watchmaking, and is a must have for any collector who cherishes the history of horology and the art of highly complicated timepieces.
