Display Watch
| watch index | 25 | |
| country | British | |
| piece name (title): | F. Dent, 18K Gold watch | |
| set | key | |
| plate | full | |
| plate finish | gilt | |
| date | 1860 | |
| long comment | F. Dent, 61 Strand, London, watchmaker to the queen | |
| case style | hunting | |
| case material | gold | |
| serial number | 27097 | |
| maker | "The most famous Dent was Edward John, a fine watch and clock maker of the early 19th century, who famously partnered John Roger Arnold from 1830-40 and then founded his own successful business E J Dent in 1840 at 82 Strand, London. Edward Dent died in 1853, and bequeathed one part of his business, then at 61 Strand and also 34 Royal Exchange to his stepson Frederick Rippon. Frederick then changed his name to Dent, and renamed the business F Dent.
Frederick died in 1860 and the business passed to his step-mother Elizabeth and the business was renamed Dent & Co." |
|
| movement | Full plate, key wound, front set, fusee, the balance cock engraved with foliate scrolls. The top plate signed 'F Dent, 61 Strand, London. Watchmaker to the Queen 27097'. | |
| escapement | Lever escapement. Solid gold balance wheel with diamond endstone and flat blue steel hairspring. | |
| case | The case is plain polished throughout. The case is consular ('swing-out') and has a hinged bezel. | |
| case marks | The inner front cover marked with a crown for 18K gold, leopard's head for London, italic "e" for 1860, and CBH in oval for Cornelius Brook Holliday, Clerkenwell, London, registered in 1850. Other covers with matching partial hallmarks. The pendant is partially hallmarked. | |
| dial and hands | The white enamelled dial has a Roman hour chapter, closed minute ring to the outside, and a subsidiary seconds dial at 6 o'clock with closed chapter and Arabic numerals at 10 second intervals, with Arabic minute numerals to the quarters only.
The dial signed 'F.Dent 61 Strand, London #27097'. Gold fleur-de-lys hands and a plain gold seconds hand, characteristic of Dent watches. |
|
| notes | The external diameter of the watch is 47mm and the gross weight is 83grams. It is estimated that the gold case weighs approximately 34 grams.
The gold plated bow has lost some plating. 1860 from case hallmarks and serial number. |
|
| valuation | This is a standard watch by a famous maker, the watch in good condition, and the gold case by a well reputed maker who often made cases for Dent, slightly worn through use. The movement is very standard and relatively common and will not command a high premium. The scrap value of the gold case is (at current gold price) $950. | |
| copyright | © 2017 Graham Morse and Martin Rosen |
