101st Auction
2019/11/16
Lot 375
Bahne Bonniksen / Johnson, Walker and Tolhurst Ltd, 80 Aldergate St. and 172 New Bond St. W. London, Movement No. 25624, Case No. 25624, 52 mm, 135 g, circa 1902
A fine English half hunting case pocket watch with carousel according to Bahne Bonniksen, awarded in 1902 with the Kew A Certificate "Especially good 85.9 Marks"
Case: 18k gold, case maker's punch mark "AF". Dial: enamel. Movm.: 3/4 plate movement, carousel with 52,5 minutes rotation time, gold screw compensation balance.
An enquiry with the British Horological Institute in 2000 regarding the history of this timepiece showed that the movement of the watch was most likely made by Bahne Bonniksen himself. It was then delivered to A. E. Fridlander in Coventry, who finished and adjusted it before selling it to Johnson, Walker & Tolhurst in London. The British Horological Institute also confirmed that the revolving pendant of the watch actually was an anti-theft device: Supposedly thieves usually twisted off the bow with the chain to steal a watch – which was impossible if the pendant was revolving.
"Carousel" watches are a design by the Danish watchmaker Bahne Bonniksen, who registered the patent in 1892 in England. His intention was to create a compromise between the "expensive" tourbillon and a normal chronometer - and he actually achieved better results with his carousel than some of the tourbillons.
A fine English half hunting case pocket watch with carousel according to Bahne Bonniksen, awarded in 1902 with the Kew A Certificate "Especially good 85.9 Marks"
Case: 18k gold, case maker's punch mark "AF". Dial: enamel. Movm.: 3/4 plate movement, carousel with 52,5 minutes rotation time, gold screw compensation balance.
An enquiry with the British Horological Institute in 2000 regarding the history of this timepiece showed that the movement of the watch was most likely made by Bahne Bonniksen himself. It was then delivered to A. E. Fridlander in Coventry, who finished and adjusted it before selling it to Johnson, Walker & Tolhurst in London. The British Horological Institute also confirmed that the revolving pendant of the watch actually was an anti-theft device: Supposedly thieves usually twisted off the bow with the chain to steal a watch – which was impossible if the pendant was revolving.
"Carousel" watches are a design by the Danish watchmaker Bahne Bonniksen, who registered the patent in 1892 in England. His intention was to create a compromise between the "expensive" tourbillon and a normal chronometer - and he actually achieved better results with his carousel than some of the tourbillons.
Sold
estimated
3.800—5.500 €
Price realized
5.400 €