109th Auction

2023/11/18

Lot 331

Thomas Earnshaw

A collection of 2 English gold pocket watches
A decorative London quarter repeating pocket watch

Sold

estimated
3.5005.000 €
Price realized
4.300 €
specific features
Case
18 K gold, engine-turned, florally engraved bezels of the front and back, case maker's punch mark "NG".
Dial
Two-tone gilt, engine-turned centre, surrounding floral decoration in three-colour gold.
Movement
Full plate movement, keywind, 2 hammers / 2 gongs, gold three-arm ring balance.
Diam.45 mm
Circa1829
Ctry.England
Wt.86 g


Thomas Earnshaw (1749-1829) began his training in watchmaking in 1763 and from 1780 on produced watches for Brockbanks. Around 1781 he invented the spring detent escapement in his workshop which would be used essentially universally for more than 150 years. In 1794/95 Earnshaw took over William Hughes' company in High Holborn. For his enhancements of the escapement Earnshaw is generally considered a pioneer in chronometer making. His company produced about 3,000 pocket watches and about 1,500 marine and pocket chronometers of the highest quality.