Grenfell & Frazier Pocket Watch and Albert Chain
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1898
This English lever pocket watch is signed by Grenfell & Frazier, a firm located on Edgware Road near Marble Arch in London. It is equipped with a crown-wind movement and a pin-set mechanism, the latter activated by a button positioned at the 1 o'clock mark.
The white enamel dial displays black Roman numerals, blued steel hands, and a sunken subsidiary seconds dial at the 6 o'clock position. The watch is paired with a graduated silver Albert chain weighing 35.8g, hallmarked in Chester, 1897. The ensemble includes a double-sided Victorian fob, which holds a bloodstone inlay on one side and a compass on the other.
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
- English lever pocket watch
- Maker
- Grenfell & Frazier
- Diameter
- 50mm
- Chain Weight
- 35.8g
- Fob Features
- Bloodstone and compass
- Chain Hallmark
- Chester, 1897
- Place recorded
- England
- Watch Hallmark
- Chester, 1898
- Setting Mechanism
- Pin-set at 1 o'clock
- Maker / attribution
- Grenfell & Frazier
Design
- Case and Dial
- The watch is housed in a 50mm silver case, hallmarked in Chester in 1898. The exterior of the case is smooth, showing a polished finish. The crown, used for winding, exhibits a contrasting gold-hued metal. The silver bow remains intact for attachment to the accompanying Albert chain. The dial is composed of white enamel, which is reported to be free from cracks or chips. It features black Roman numerals for the hour markers and a subsidiary dial located at the 6 o'clock position for measuring seconds. The time is indicated by blued steel hands.
- Chain and Fob
- The watch is presented with a 35.8g graduated silver Albert chain, which is hallmarked on every individual link, the T-bar, and the fastener. These hallmarks correspond to the Chester assay office and a date of 1897. Attached to the chain is a Victorian-era fob. This component is dual-sided, housing a piece of bloodstone on one side and a functioning compass on the reverse, providing both aesthetic and utilitarian features to the overall ensemble.
- Visible features
- • Winding button appears to have a gold-colored finish • Sunken subsidiary seconds dial at 6 o'clock • Silver Albert chain with a T-bar attachment • Victorian fob features a reversible bloodstone and compass
- Movement and Mechanism
- The timepiece utilizes an English lever escapement. It is designed as a crown-wind watch, which is supplemented by a pin-set mechanism for time adjustment. To set the hands, the user must depress a side pin located at the 1 o'clock position on the case band. The movement contains specific branding related to the location of the retailer.
Identification
- 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: The exact identity of the engraver of the movement logo is not stated
- Research required: The mechanical integrity of the internal movement is reported by the vendor but not verified