Description
An early 19th Century English Peto cross detent chronometer in a purpose made gold consular case. Full plate gilt keywind fusee movement with gilt dust cover. Harrison’s maintaining power. Engraved cock with diamond endstone, polished steel regulator. Unusual plain four arm gilt balance with four blue steel screws in the rim, blue steel spiral hairspring. Rare Peto cross detent chronometer escapement, the curved horn in gold, steel passing spring. Escape pivots with endstones. Purpose made white enamel dial with subsidiary seconds, Roman numerals, blue steel seconds hand with gold arbor, gold Breguet hands. Substantial purpose made 18 carat consular case with chased and engraved bezels and pendant. Plain gold inner dome, maker’s mark “Y&D” and number corresponding to that on the movement.
Interestingly a watch with the preceding number was part of the Ilbert collection, and is now in the British Museum. The movement, also with a Peto cross detent, is almost identical and housed in gold pair cases hallmarked 1800. It is illustrated in the Catalogue of Watches in the British Museum. Vol. VI.