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Pocket Watches · Pocket watch

Frodsham 18ct Lever Minute Repeater Pocket Watch

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.
Maker / attribution
Frodsham (maker)
Date
20th century
Country of origin
Unrecorded in source
Object type
Pocket watch
Stock no.
Product 3506
Credit line
Dealer listing, WatchMuseum.org shop (product 3506)
Catalogue title (original)
Frodsham 18ct Lever Minute Repeater Pocket Watch (English)

View the source record (dealer listing) ↗ (opens another website in a new tab)Suggest a correction

Record summary

Catalogued by WatchMuseum.org shop (stock number Product 3506), this is a pocket watch by Frodsham, dated 20th century. The Atlas places it in the Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking period (1900 – 1945) of its Pocket Watches collection. The record is illustrated with 6 photographs.

Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.

Catalogue description

Dealer description — WatchMuseum.org shop

The Frodsham 18ct Lever Minute Repeater Pocket Watch is a remarkable testament to early 20th-century horological craftsmanship, embodying the exquisite artistry and technical prowess of Charles Frodsham. This rare 18ct gold half hunter keyless lever minute repeater pocket watch, dating back to the early 1900s, is a true collector’s gem. Its exceptional white enamel dial, adorned with Roman numerals and an outer minute track, is signed with the iconic Charles Frodsham name and features a unique subsidiary seconds dial at the nine o’clock position. The aperture in the case reveals the original blued steel double spade hands, adding to its timeless elegance. The 18ct yellow gold half hunter case, with an enamel Roman numeral chapter ring on the front, is hallmarked to 1901 and boasts a plain case back and inner cuvette, with the repeater slide conveniently located at the side. The watch’s 3/4 plate movement is equally impressive, featuring Nicole Nielsen winding on the backplate, fully jeweled, and stamped with Charles Frodsham’s name and number. This combination of Nicole Nielsen winding and a minute repeater function makes the watch incredibly rare and a prized addition to any serious watch collection. With a diameter of 50 mm, this English-made timepiece is in excellent condition, reflecting the enduring legacy of its creator, Charles Frodsham. Introducing an extraordinary pocket watch from Charles Frodsham – a rare 18ct gold half hunter keyless lever minute repeater pocket watch, dating back to the early 1900s. The watch features an exceptional white enamel dial adorned with Roman numerals and an outer minute track. The dial is signed with the iconic Charles Frodsham name and has a unique subsidiary seconds dial at the nine o’clock position. The aperture in the case showcases the original blued steel double spade hands, adding to its timeless elegance. The 18ct yellow gold half hunter case is another standout feature, with an enamel Roman numeral chapter ring on the front of the case. The English hallmark dates the case to 1901 and boasts a plain case back and plain inner cuvette. The repeater slide is found at the side of the case. The 3/4 plate movement is equally impressive and is adorned with Nicole Nielsen winding on the backplate. The movement is fully jeweled and stamped with Charles Frodsham’s name and number. This watch is incredibly rare because it combines Nicole Nielsen winding and a minute repeater function. Overall, this pocket watch would make an excellent addition to any watch collector’s collection. Creator: Charles Frodsham Case Material: 18k Gold,Yellow Gold Case Shape: Round Case Dimensions: Diameter: 50 mm (1.97 in) Place of Origin: England Period: 20th Century Condition: Excellent

Historical context

Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking (1900 – 1945)

The wristwatch displaces the pocket watch; waterproof cases, self-winding and grand complications.

The pocket watch reached technical maturity and then began to give way to the wristwatch after the First World War. Complicated watches for collectors such as Henry Graves Jr. and James Ward Packard, railroad watches, and slim Art Deco dress watches are characteristic.

Read the period in the timelineMore pocket watches from this periodEarlier: Industrial Revolution

Atlas type guide

Repeating watches

Before electric light, telling the time in the dark was a real problem. Repeating watches strike the time on demand when a slide or push-piece is operated: quarter repeaters sound hours and quarters, minute repeaters hours, quarters and minutes. Edward Barlow and Daniel Quare disputed the invention in London in the 1680s. Early repeaters struck on a bell inside the case; Abraham-Louis Breguet introduced the gong (a coiled steel wire) around 1780, allowing thinner watches.

Repeaters require a separate train with racks, snails and a governor to control the striking speed, and are among the most demanding complications to make and adjust. Swiss makers of the Vallée de Joux specialised in repeating ébauches in the nineteenth century.

What to look for

  • A slide on the case band or a push-piece through the pendant.
  • Gongs encircling the movement (after c. 1780) or a bell in the case (earlier); pierced case for sound.
  • The racks, snails and governor visible under the dial or on the movement.
  • Terms such as 'Minutes', 'Quarts' or 'Répétition' on the dial or cuvette.

Dating clues

  • Bell-striking quarter repeaters: c. 1690–1800.
  • Gong repeaters and dumb repeaters (striking on the case): after c. 1780.
  • Minute repeaters became more common after c. 1830 with Vallée de Joux ébauches.

General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.

Read next:Minute repeater

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