English Key Wind Skeletonized Chain Fusée Pocket Watch

The skilled goldsmiths and silversmiths of Lock & Son in Oxford, England crafted this wonderful early key wind pocket watch. A front viewing crystal at once provides a glimpse into some of the intricacies, finesse, and beauty behind such a timepiece. Dating to the mid-1800s, the case is finely crafted in sterling silver bearing a hallmark and featuring a handsome guilloché, or engine-turned, rear cover.

Blued steel Breguet-style hands point out the time on a hand-painted enamel chapter with Roman numerals. Keeping the time by key winding is the fusée movement comprising six-spoke wheel crossings, a verge escapement, and decorative pierced and sculpted gilt plates. The fusée is the most elegant and earliest mechanism successfully applied to clock and watchmaking to achieve more accurate timekeeping. The design revolutionized and advanced the timekeeping accuracy of clocks and watches throughout the centuries. Thus, enabling a mechanical timepiece to transform from being off by hours to merely minutes within a week.

This rare and remarkable pocket watch exudes the skills, complexity, and artistry of early timekeeping. Further, it bears a full restoration and a one-year warranty.

45mm

Circa 1840