Arnold 367/668
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Front, Dial, Back, Hallmark, Joint & mark, Inner bottom, Movement, Movement edge view, Second movement edge view This watch dates from 1789 which was the year before J. R. Arnold was admitted a freeman of the Clockmakers Company and entered into the partnership with his father. The earliest of these watches to carry the "& Son" designation is hallmarked 1784. John R. Arnold and his lifelong friend Thomas Prest were apprentices together with John Arnold. Several of the watches in this group feature the keyless work that was patented by Thomas Prest. This watch has the Y/Z form of balance, which is the least common of the early forms. The hairspring is a standard steel hairspring of about 3 1/2 turns. It is one of a large series of chronometers of the second best kind that were designed to actually be worn on the person. These watches were available in a range of pricing that depended on the jewelling. In the case of this watch, it was fully jeweled and represented the top of the line in Arnold's small pocket chronometers. The watch, unfortunately, no longer has its original detent and the dial has also been replaced by a high grade French dial. Although the tip has been lost from the minute hand, the hands are original to the extent that the small screw is still in place on the hub of the minute hand and the gold boss is intact in the second hand.
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