S. Smith & Son Chronometer 170-20 Pocket Watch
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1911
This is an open face pocket watch cased in 18K yellow gold by S. Smith & Son, dating to circa 1911. Measuring 50 mm in diameter, the keyless timepiece features a white enamel dial with black Roman numerals, blued steel hands, and a subsidiary seconds dial at 6 o'clock.
Text on the dial notes its Kew Certificate Class 'A' status along with the maker's address at 9 Strand, London. According to catalog notes, it participated in the 1911 Kew Observatory chronometer trials and employs a single roller escapement with a going barrel winding system.
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
- Pocket chronometer & deck watch
- Weight
- Approximately 108.8 grams
- Diameter
- 50 mm
- Escapement
- Single roller
- Case Number
- 170-20
- Case Material
- 18K yellow gold
- Place recorded
- United Kingdom
- Winding Mechanism
- Going barrel
- Maker / attribution
- S. Smith & Son
Design
- Visible features
- • White enamel dial with black Roman numerals and an outer minute track • Blued steel hands and subsidiary seconds dial at 6 o'clock • Polished 18K yellow gold open face case with round pendant and bow at 12 o'clock • Dial inscription reads 'S. SMITH & SON / 9 STRAND, LONDON / 170-20' and 'KEW CERTIFICATE CLASS "A"'
- Dial and Visual Presentation
- The pocket watch displays a white enamel dial with black Roman hour numerals bordered by an outer minute track. Time is indicated by blued steel hands, with running seconds tracked on an inset subsidiary seconds dial positioned at 6 o'clock. Dial text marks the piece's chronometric certification and maker identity. The upper dial features multi-line lettering reading 'S. SMITH & SON / 9 STRAND, LONDON / 170-20', while the lower half states 'KEW CERTIFICATE CLASS "A"'.
- Case Construction and Signatures
- The timepiece is an open-face, keyless design in polished 18K yellow gold, configured with a round pendant and bow at the 12 o'clock position. The auction catalog notes a diameter of 50 mm and an approximate weight of 108.8 grams. The case is listed under number '170-20' with catalog entries noting signatures on the 'dial, case and movement'. Specific interior case hallmarks, casemaker initials, or stamps are not recorded in the visible dial-side view or auction summary.
- Reported Movement and Kew Observatory Trials
- Cataloged under caliber reference 170-20, the movement is reported by the seller to incorporate a 'single roller' escapement and a 'going barrel' winding mechanism. Movement components are not visible in the provided image. According to catalog notes citing an extract dated September 14, 2018 from the Chronometer Database, this watch (Chronometer No. 170-20) was submitted by S. Smith & Son to the Kew Observatory Chronometer Competition in Richmond, Surrey. Tested between September 1 and October 15, 1911, it received classification under the 'Kew - Class A' category.
Identification
- Reference
- Chronometer 170-20
- Serial number
- 170-20
- 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: Movement and interior case hallmarks are not visible in this dial-side photograph
- Research required: Technical mechanism details rely on auctioneer cataloging notes