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Catalogue en ligne

24 juin 2026 - Basel Watch Auction
Provenance

Swiss owner

Littérature

G.H. Baillie, Watchmakers and Clockmakers of the World, London, 1929, p. 190, listing John Latham, London.
B. Loomes, Watchmakers & Clockmakers of the World: Complete 21st Century Edition, London, 2006, p. 469.
C. Clutton and G. Daniels, Clocks & Watches: The Collector's Guide, revised edition, London, 1975, pp. 64–72, for comparable English verge pair-cased watches of the late eighteenth century.

John (Jn.) Latham was active in London during the third quarter of the eighteenth century and is recorded among the leading London watchmakers producing verge-fusee watches and repeating timepieces. The present watch, with strike/silent selection and decorative pair-case construction, is consistent with English production of the circa 1770–1790 period.

For related examples see
G.H. Baillie, Watchmakers and Clockmakers of the World, Vol. I, London, 1929;
Brian Loomes, Watchmakers & Clockmakers of the World: Complete 21st Century Edition, London, 2006;
and Cecil Clutton & George Daniels, Clocks & Watches: The Collector's Guide, London, 1975.

SALEROOM NOTICE:
The watch is in gold, see adapted description.
Catalogue en ligne 24 juin 2026 - Basel Watch Auction Lot 477

Jn. Latham, London
Late 18th century, circa 1780

A Pair-Cased Verge gold Pocket Clock Watch, Silent Strike Indication, with its protective leather case

Case: the watch is contained within an exceptional pierced and engraved outer case of scrolling foliate decoration and cartouches, enclosing the inner watch case, of particular interest is the engraved bezel inscription “STRIKE / SILENT” with a sliding selector, indicating the ability to engage or silence the watch's striking mechanism, an uncommon feature on watches of this period

Dial: gilt with Roman numerals for the hours with an outer Arabic minute chapter and finely pierced steel hands, outer minute track, signed in the centre Jno. Latham, London 

Movement: gilt full-plate movement with protecting cover signed, verge escapement, fusée and chain, balance cock engraved and pierced, striking mechanism with hammers on a bell inside the inner watch case, signed

Dimensions: 55 mm (without leather protective case)

Weight: 197,7 g (without leather protective case)

Estimation

CHF 4'000 – 6'000

Vendu pour

CHF 8'257

Provenance

Swiss owner

Littérature

G.H. Baillie, Watchmakers and Clockmakers of the World, London, 1929, p. 190, listing John Latham, London.
B. Loomes, Watchmakers & Clockmakers of the World: Complete 21st Century Edition, London, 2006, p. 469.
C. Clutton and G. Daniels, Clocks & Watches: The Collector's Guide, revised edition, London, 1975, pp. 64–72, for comparable English verge pair-cased watches of the late eighteenth century.

John (Jn.) Latham was active in London during the third quarter of the eighteenth century and is recorded among the leading London watchmakers producing verge-fusee watches and repeating timepieces. The present watch, with strike/silent selection and decorative pair-case construction, is consistent with English production of the circa 1770–1790 period.

For related examples see
G.H. Baillie, Watchmakers and Clockmakers of the World, Vol. I, London, 1929;
Brian Loomes, Watchmakers & Clockmakers of the World: Complete 21st Century Edition, London, 2006;
and Cecil Clutton & George Daniels, Clocks & Watches: The Collector's Guide, London, 1975.

SALEROOM NOTICE:
The watch is in gold, see adapted description.

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