LAUTIER, Bath. No 832
A fine Regency period watch with duplex escapement and the most beautiful dial and hands.
£3,496.00
Pink gold pair case hallmarked London 1813, case maker WM (probably William Mean, Clerkenwell), the outer with contemporary Bath watchpaper. Well finished fullplate fusee movement with engraved cock, jewelled to the 3rd with cap jewels on balance (diamond) and escape, the cap stamped IxR, as often seen in the best London work of the period. Duplex (frictional rest) escapement in fine original condition, the staff retaining its ruby roller. Plain steel balance with compensation-curb mounted on the gilt index acting on the spiral balance-spring. One-piece enamel dial in perfect condition, with lovely matching gold hands of a rare design. 54.5 mm diameter and weighing just over 150 grams gross.
Benjamin Lautier, 6 Bridge Street, one of Bath’s best watch and clock retailers, part of the Bath partnership of Vigne & Lautier up till around 1810, and known for selling fine London work. Lautier’s will, dated August 1846, is held in the National Archives: PROB 11/2040
NB: The escapement used in the watch is the standard English single-wheel variant of Tyrer’s Patent No 1311 of 1782. The Duplex escapement, as it has come to be known, was initially fitted with two escape wheels, one for locking and one for impulse. Very few of these English double escape wheel watches are known and it seems that English makers took to the single wheel arrangement almost immediately, as used by Lautier in this movement. It was considered at the time as being as the best escapement for pocket wear, only losing out to the detached lever escapement due to the effect of wear caused by the roller acting on the escape’s locking teeth – see also my Profile No 4 on the duplex escapement for more information regarding the importance of these watches
In lovely original condition showing few signs of wear, and with one of the finest dial and hand combinations of the period known to me. Serviced and guaranteed.
Item available
Description
Pink gold pair case hallmarked London 1813, case maker WM (probably William Mean, Clerkenwell), the outer with contemporary Bath watchpaper. Well finished fullplate fusee movement with engraved cock, jewelled to the 3rd with cap jewels on balance (diamond) and escape, the cap stamped IxR, as often seen in the best London work of the period. Duplex (frictional rest) escapement in fine original condition, the staff retaining its ruby roller. Plain steel balance with compensation-curb mounted on the gilt index acting on the spiral balance-spring. One-piece enamel dial in perfect condition, with lovely matching gold hands of a rare design. 54.5 mm diameter and weighing just over 150 grams gross.
Benjamin Lautier, 6 Bridge Street, one of Bath’s best watch and clock retailers, part of the Bath partnership of Vigne & Lautier up till around 1810, and known for selling fine London work. Lautier’s will, dated August 1846, is held in the National Archives: PROB 11/2040
NB: The escapement used in the watch is the standard English single-wheel variant of Tyrer’s Patent No 1311 of 1782. The Duplex escapement, as it has come to be known, was initially fitted with two escape wheels, one for locking and one for impulse. Very few of these English double escape wheel watches are known and it seems that English makers took to the single wheel arrangement almost immediately, as used by Lautier in this movement. It was considered at the time as being as the best escapement for pocket wear, only losing out to the detached lever escapement due to the effect of wear caused by the roller acting on the escape’s locking teeth – see also my Profile No 4 on the duplex escapement for more information regarding the importance of these watches
In lovely original condition showing few signs of wear, and with one of the finest dial and hand combinations of the period known to me. Serviced and guaranteed.