John Bennett. A Very Rare and Exceptional 18k Gold Hunter Case Minute Repeating Perpetual Calendar Chronograph Clock Watch with Grande and Petite Sonnerie and Moon Phases

SIGNED SIR JOHN BENNETT, LTD, MAKERS TO THE LATE QUEEN VICTORIA, 65 CHEAPSIDE, LONDON, MOVEMENT NO. 12'679 BY AUDEMARS PIGUET, CASE STAMPED FT FOR FREDERICK THOM AND WITH LONDON DATE LETTER FOR 1909

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John Bennett. A Very Rare and Exceptional 18k Gold Hunter Case Minute Repeating Perpetual Calendar Chronograph Clock Watch with Grande and Petite Sonnerie and Moon Phases
Signed Sir John Bennett, Ltd, Makers to the Late Queen Victoria, 65 Cheapside, London, Movement No. 12'679 by Audemars Piguet, Case Stamped FT for Frederick Thom and with London Date Letter for 1909
Cal. 20''' gilt-finished two-train three-quarter plate jewelled lever movement wound separately by turning the crown in both directions, bimetallic compensation balance, diamond-set endstone, minute repeating and grande/petite sonnerie striking on two hammers on to two gongs, minute repeat activated through a slide in the band at the 5 position, gold cuvette, off white enamel dial signed by Willis, Roman numerals, outer calibrated seconds ring, four subsidiary dials for day, date, month combined with leap year indication and 60 minute register, subsidiary seconds combined with phases of the moon, blued steel hands, polished circular case, rim under bezel marked Strike/Silent at the 12 position, Quarter Only/Hours & Quarters at the 6 position, day, date, calendar and moon lever correctors, case stamped F.T. for Frederick Thoms, and with London date letter for 1909, dial and movement signed and numbered
62mm diam.

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Lot Essay

Sir John Bennett (1814-1897) is one of the preeminent clock and watch makers of the late 19th Century. Born in Greenwich to a watch maker, he and his brother continued in the family business upon the early death of his father. Records show John was a watch maker by the age of 16. He is well-known both for his technique skills as well as his ability to retail his watches. He opened his own shop in 1847 in Cheapside and exhibited at the London Exhibition of 1862 and at the Paris Exhibition of 1878, where he received medals.

Sir John was also a leading lecturer on horology and was known to comment on the superior quality of Swiss watch makers and referred to the fact that English watches often contained Swiss movements. The present complicated watch is a lovely example of both the best of English and Swiss watch making.

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