Eardley Norton 18ct gold quarter repeater pocket watch - c1800

These are very poor photos of a magnificent quarter repeating watch by Eardley Norton, one of history's finest English watchmakers. You can expect the actual watch to be significantly brighter and cleaner and generally more impressive.

The watch is a fine 18ct gold paircased verge fusee quarter repeater, dating from around c1800. The watch is authentic, in untouched condition and in full working order. It comes from our private collection and is very special. It was made by hand [no machinery in those days] by Eardley Norton. Norton was a well-known Clerkenwell maker living at 49, St. John Street, London, and celebrated for his musical and astronomical clocks and watches. In 1771 he patented (No. 987) 'a clock which strikes the hours and parts upon a principle entirely new, and a watch which repeats the hours and parts, so concisely contrived and disposed as to admit of being conveniently contained not only in a watch, but also in its appendage, such as a key, seal, or trinket.' An astronomical clock with four dials made by Norton for George III is in Buckingham Palace and another fine watch by Norton is owned by the Victoria and Albert museum.

The watch is of course a one-off piece as there was no mass production in those days. Watches took a long time to create and very few people could afford to buy them. It dates before the first Swiss watchmakers, to a time when the English lead the way in watchmaking.

The watch is paircased [this means that the watch itself sits in an outer case] and the 18ct gold outer case is original to the watch. The watch itself features an 18ct gold pierced case, an original porcelain dial, original domed lens, original blued-steel Breguet moon hands and a clean chain-driven verge fusee quarter repeating movement, complete with original signed dust cap. The movement is in good working order for a watch of this age and the watch comes with a key for winding and setting. If you are looking for a certain financial investment this is it. Fewer and fewer pocket watches from this early era are coming to the market and their value will only rise.

The 18ct gold outer case is in good condition for its age, with the hinge in good order. It measures 53mm wide. The case of the watch itself is also 18ct gold and also is in very good condition. It is beautifully pierced and decorated and measures 44mm wide x 18mm thick x 80mm high, including the stem and bow. The stem and bow are in good condition. The case opens on a hinge and the dial/movement swings out on a hinge, with this action working correctly.

The original, unrestored porcelain dial is in bright condition - fair for its age with three edge chips and a feint hairline between the 6 and 7 positions. The original blued-steel Breguet 'moon' hands are in excellent unbent condition, and the original domed antique lens is very clear, with no significant wear.

The original key-wound verge fusee quarter repeater movement [chain-driven] is covered by a movement cap, which is signed 'Eardley Norton', 'London' and '26573', which is in very bright condition. The movement is also in very good, bright condition - much more so than photographed - and beautifully decorated, featuring a diamond end stone. It is signed 'Eardley Norton', 'London' and '26573'. The movement is in good working order for its age, with the repeater in full working order. The movement has a nice strong chime. Keys will be provided for winding and for setting the hands.

If you are buying the watch as a beginner to antique pocket watches, please call us after receiving it so that we can explain how to handle and operate it. Our asking price is very fair for this watch, so only sensible best offers please. Such is the high quality of the watch. I offer a full refund if you are not entirely happy, as long as the watch is returned in the same condition. Please feel free to view the watch in central London.

A superb collection-standard antique pocket watch; full of charm and history. Will provide an excellent financial investment as well as a possession to enjoy.