A Fine Early 19th. Century Gold Cylinder Repeater
Stock No. 1925
Richard Webster
London, 1807
Gold pair cases, 55.25 mm.
Cylinder quarter repeating movement
Sold
An excellent and substantial, high quality cylinder quarter repeater, with subsidiary seconds dial, in heavy gold cases, by this good London maker.
MOVEMENT : Fine gilt cylinder movement, with beautifully engraved balance cock with portrait cartouche. Fully signed “Rd. WEBSTER EXCHANGE ALLEY London” and numbered (3370). The movement is protected by a removable gilt dust cap. Good original condition with both watch and repeating mechanism running well.
There is a stop/start lever on the case band at 5 o’clock. This is missing the small piece of steel wire which engages the movement to stop and release the movement.
DIAL : 45.75 mm. White enamel dial, in nice condition but with some light hairlines around the chapter ring at 4 and 10 and a tiny chip right on the edge at 1. No repairs. The dial is also signed and numbered (3369)
INNER CASE : 18ct gold. London hallmarks for 1807, maker IN. Beautifully pierced band. Both crystal and case are in very good condition. The case snaps shut nicely.
OUTER CASE : 18ct gold with matching hallmarks to the inner. One small dent on the bezel at 6, but otherwise perfect.
The total weight of the gold cases (without bell but including crystal) is 81 gms.
Richard Webster is listed at change Alley, Cornhill, London in 1811.
The serial numbers for this watch are interesting, with the movement being 3370 while the dial is 3369. Both are undoubtedly original to each other but perhaps the dials were switched during the assembly of two identical watches.