Sir John Bennett - The Hong Kong Watch Auction: XIX Hong Kong Saturday, November 23, 2024 | Phillips
  • Manufacturer: Sir John Bennett
    Year: Circa 1915
    Movement No: 12622
    Material: 18K yellow gold
    Calibre: Manual, 19 ligne, fully jewelled
    Dimensions: 56mm diameter
    Signed: Dial and movement signed, Osborn family Coat of Arm and Geroge Osborn on the cuvettes

  • Catalogue Essay

    Founded in the reign of King George II, British clock and watchmaker Sir John Bennett started his career in the 1840s at No, 65 Cheapside London. A frontier of his time, John Bennett was a frequent supplier to the English Royal Household by the likes of her Majesty Queen Victoria and the Royal Observatory for his high quality timing instruments such as clocks and pocket watches. Sought after with strong demand for excellence, Bennett was one of England’s first watchmakers to support mass production, and as a savvy business man Bennett surely knews how to curate the best of the best for his clients. Just to name drop a few of his collaborators, all best craftsmen of that era, he worked with renowned casemaker Fred Thoms (FT sponsor’s mark) and Frederick Willis enamel dial maker. Bennett often sourced high quality Swiss ébauche, one of which is none other than Audemars Piguet.

    The present keyless yellow gold case features a theif proof swivel bow by Fred Thoms, its classical Roman numerals white enamel dial is further preserved in a wonderful condition. This clock watch incorporates minute repeating with both grand and petite sonnerie striking, and the facility to silence the striking. A seasoned collector with attention to details will notice its slight off-white dial, known as the “Venetian tint” by the skilled hands of T. J. Willis.

    Featuring bi-metallic compensation balance, blued-steel spiral spring with double terminal curve and regulator set with diamond endstone, the three-quarter plate movement could possibly be an unsigned Audemars Piguet ébauche as they were one of the major high quality movement supplier of the Genre Anglaises era.

    Bestowed with a polychrome enamel Osborn Family coat of arms as well as the signature of George Osborn in blue champlevé enamel on its cuvettes, one can understand this was possibly a bespoke timepiece for the Osborn family.

874

A rare and possibly unique yellow gold hunter-cased minute repeating keyless clock watch with grande and petite sonnerie, white enamel dial and enamel coat of arms, made to for the Osborn family

Circa 1915
56mm diameter
Dial and movement signed, Osborn family Coat of Arm and Geroge Osborn on the cuvettes

Estimate
HK$240,000 - 480,000 
€28,100-56,200
$30,800-61,500

Sold for HK$304,800

Contact Specialist

Thomas Perazzi
Head of Watches, Asia
+852 2318 2030
WatchesHK@phillips.com
 

Gertrude Wong
Head of Sale, Hong Kong
+852 2318 2045
gertrudewong@phillips.com
 

The Hong Kong Watch Auction: XIX

Hong Kong Auction 23 - 24 November 2024