The UK’s best known watchmaker, Roger Smith OBE visited the Clock & Watch Exhibition at Bonhams and examine two very famous, historical watches, rarely seen by the public as they are part of a private collection owned by Dr John C Taylor OBE.
One is a Thomas Tompion watch from London dated 1697. It is the best preserved of Tompion’s early repeating watches, the innovative movement being concealed from prying eyes by the employment of secret secure latches. Pre-balance-spring watches were generally single-handed, but in this superlative production by the era’s premier maker, its accuracy justifies two hands, for hours and minutes, read against boldly set out numerals. The Tompion has a top that can be pressed to ring out the first quarter...
