Charles Frodsham 18ct gold openfaced keywound pocket chronometer
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1860
Maker / issuer
Charles FrodshamThis openfaced keywound pocket chronometer by Charles Frodsham is housed in a 52mm 18ct gold case hallmarked for London in 1860 by casemaker RR. The 47mm white enamel dial features Roman numerals, blued steel hands, an up/down state-of-wind subsidiary dial below 12 o'clock, and a recessed subsidiary seconds dial at 6 o'clock.
The dial is signed 'CHAS FRODSHAM' and numbered '01341 AD fmsz'. According to the auction catalogue, the half-plate movement features two crowned honorifics, a chain fusee with maintaining power, a bi-metallic cut compensated balance, a free-sprung blued steel helical balance spring, and a detent escapement. The watch is accompanied by an associated brass-bound mahogany deck box.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Type
- Open-faced pocket chronometer
- Maker
- Charles Frodsham, 84 Strand, London
- Gross Weight
- 124.7 gms
- Case Diameter
- 52mm
- Hallmark Date
- 1860
- Place recorded
- United Kingdom
- Movement Features
- Chain fusee and detent escapement
- Maker / attribution
- Charles Frodsham
Design
- Visible features
- • White enamel dial featuring an up/down state-of-wind subsidiary below XII and a subsidiary seconds dial at VI. • Blued steel spade hands for hours and minutes. • Gold openfaced case with a round pendant, suspension bow, and ribbed bezel rim. • Hairline crack and edge damage visible on the dial between approximately 5 and 6 o'clock.
- Identity and Provenance
- This timepiece is signed by Charles Frodsham, 84 Strand, London, with the serial number 01341. It includes the code 'AD fmsz', which the source identifies as a proprietary Frodsham date code referencing the year 1850. The 18ct gold case is hallmarked for London, 1860, with the maker's mark 'RR'. It is housed in an associated brass-bound mahogany deck box containing a velvet-lined watch bed with the ink-inscribed number '01379'.
- Condition and Accessories
- The watch is reported as working, though the movement is noted to require professional cleaning. The case exhibits minor rubbing to the engine turning, and the suspension bow shows evidence of historical strengthening. The case hinges are described as being in good condition. The associated deck box displays a split in the wood in the lowest interior section and wear near the watch suspension position. No winding key for the watch or key for the box is included.
- Mechanism and Construction
- The half-plate movement is signed and numbered and features two crowned honorifics. Mechanical components include a chain fusee with maintaining power, a bi-metallic cut compensated balance, a free-sprung blued steel helical balance spring, and a detent escapement. The timepiece features a 47mm white enamel dial with a power reserve subsidiary, a recessed seconds subsidiary, and blued steel hands. Damage is reported on the dial between 5 and 6 o'clock, alongside a hair crack extending from the 25-second mark to the dial edge.
Identification
- Serial number
- 01341
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: Condition report notes dial damage between 5 and 6 o'clock and a hairline crack extending from 25 seconds to the dial edge.
- Research required: The top suspension bow shows signs of being strengthened at the top.
- Research required: The accompanying mahogany deck box is associated, bearing number 01379 in ink under the bed, and neither box key nor winding key is present.