18ct Gold Hunter Pocket Watch with Quarter Repeater

Rare 18ct gold hunter, quarter repeater pocket watch, with movement by Nicole & Capt for Hunt & Roskell, 1.85 in. case with decorative engraved borders, monogrammed to front cover EA, hallmarked London 1856 to covers and inner dust cover, makers mark AN. Dust cover with presentation inscription dated 1938. Quarter repeater with Adolphe Nicole's keyless winding and overbanking limiter on balance spring. Both features patented by Nicole. duplex escapement. Plate back signed 'Hunt & Roskell, 156 New Bond St, London. Patent. No.11303' White enamel dial, Roman numerals, rail track minutes, eccentrically placed sunken subsidiary seconds dial between X and XI. Signed 'Hunt & Roskell, London'. Blued steel hands. Repeater actuator slide on band at IIII. Hand setting pusher without olivettes between I and II. Hairline at VI. 103gm Swiss born watchmakers Charles Victor Adolphe Nicole and Jules Philippe Capt, from 1839 traded as Nicole & Capt from 80B Dean Street, Soho, London. They made movements for E. J. Dent, Charles Frodsham, Robert Roskell and others. With associated red Morocco box.

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Keyless Watch - A keyless watch is a type of pocket watch or wristwatch that does not require a separate winding key to wind or set the time. Instead, a keyless watch is wound and set by a small knob or button located on the side of the watch, called a crown.

Keyless watches were first introduced in the late 19th century and quickly became popular due to their convenience and ease of use. Prior to the development of keyless watches, pocket watches were typically wound and set using a small key that was inserted into a hole in the watch case. The key would be turned to wind the watch's mainspring, and then turned again to set the time.

With the introduction of the keyless watch, watchmakers were able to simplify the winding and setting process by eliminating the need for a separate key. Instead, the crown on the side of the watch could be pulled out to set the time, and then pushed back in to wind the watch's mainspring.

The keyless watch design has since become the standard for most modern watches, both pocket and wristwatches. In addition to being more convenient to use, keyless watches are also typically more reliable and accurate than earlier models that used winding keys.
Movement - The technical name for the workings of a clock or watch, and does not include the dial or case.
Duplex Escapement - A duplex escapement is used in clocks and watches to control the release of energy from the mainspring to the timekeeping mechanism. The duplex escapement is a variation of the lever escapement and is characterized by the use of two pallets, or escape wheels, to control the release of energy.

In a duplex escapement, the balance wheel, which oscillates back and forth, alternately pushes against the two pallets. This allows the energy stored in the mainspring to be transferred to the balance wheel in a controlled manner, keeping the timekeeping mechanism accurate.

One of the advantages of the duplex escapement is its relatively low friction, which helps to maintain accurate timekeeping and prolong the life of the clock or watch. Additionally, the duplex escapement is relatively easy to maintain and repair, making it a popular choice for clockmakers.
Hunter - A hunter pocket watch is the type where the case includes a spring-hinged circular metal lid or cover, that closes over the glass face of the watch, protecting it from dust, scratches and other damage or debris. The majority of antique and vintage hunter-case watches have the lid-hinges at the 9 o’clock position, suiting the right handed user.
Hunt & Roskell - Hunt & Roskell, were a firm of manufacturing and retail jewellers and silversmiths, founded in 1843 by Robert Roskell a famous pocket watch maker from Liverpool, and John Samuel Hunt who had previously been in partnership with silversmith Paul Storr, trading Storr & Co. (1819-22), Storr & Mortimer (1822-38), Mortimer & Hunt (1838-43) and then Hunt & Roskell (1843-97).

Hunt & Roskell had retail premises at 156 New Bond Street and a manufacturing workshops at 26 Harrison Street, near Clerkenwell.

They were among the finest of the Victorian silversmith, manufacturing in the high Victorian style, and their craftsmanship was recognised by their appointment as silversmiths and jewellers to Queen Victoria.

John Samuel Hunt continued as a partner until his death in 1865, when he was succeeded by his son, John Hunt (d.1879). Robert Roskell remained in the firm until his death in 1888. In 1889 the firm was taken over by J.W. Benson and continued in business as Hunt & Roskell Ltd until c.1965.

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