Once in a while a very fine and rare pocket watch comes in that is so remarkable on so many levels and is a truly incredible piece of Australian history and one that is quite simply never to be found again.
Firstly, this antique pocket watch was made by the Australian company F. Allerding and Sons in 1884.
Frederick Allerding was a jeweller who specalised in scientific equipment and timepieces who started in Sydney in 1863.
To find a pocket watch that is both signed on the dial and the movement by an Australian company is in itself quite rare and this alone makes it a wonderful piece of early Australian history.
Then there is the pocket watch case itself. Made in solid 18ct yellow gold in London in 1884, the case is in superb condition with the hinge springing open perfectly. The case measures 48mm across by 13.2mm high and to make it even more incredible is the design of this pocket watch case which is called a half-hunter or demi-hunter case that has the advantage of being able to read the time while the case is closed with the hour hand having double spade markers to differentiate between the minute and hour hand and able to be read against the Roman numerals on the front of the case.
Opening the front cover reveals an immaculate white enamel dial that is still in perfect condition and signed "F. Allerding and Son Sydney". Above the 12 o'clock is a button that when pressed will start the chronograph centre sweep seconds that makes this another superb feature of this pocket watch.
However then there is the sub-seconds.
On every single pocket watch that we have ever had, repaired, valued or seen always the sub-seconds are at the bottom at the 6 o'clock and never before have we seen let alone had one that the sub-seconds are at the 9 o'clock position.
From the solid 18ct yellow gold demi-hunter case, the chronograph timer, the Australian history and the rare dial configuration all go to make this a truly spectacular antique pocket watch that is still in superb condition and a one-of-a-kind.
Stock# Q515
Maker: F Allerding and Sons
Circa: 1884
$Sold.
Out of stock
