Rare silver moonphase pocket watch with provenance from Singapore 1894

This is a super high quality pocket watch which was made in Switzerland and then sent to England where it was cased in an English silver case and sold by Gabriel, London. The watch is bigger and thicker than a pocket watch and would be classed as a Goliath size. The quality of this watch far surpasses the moonphase watches being produced at this time and the silver case with gold furniture attests to this. The watch comes in a wooden military deck watch box with a card which reads

“Personal Property of :- Flight Lieutenant A Noble, Royal Air Force, H.Q.F.W,  R.A.F. Changi, Singapore 17.”

Movement – the large gilt bridge movement has a lever escapement, a compensated balance and is stamped with a logo A & W with an anchor. The movement is in 95% mint condition – superb condition

Case – the movement comes in a massive silver open face case which has clear English hallmarks for Birmingham 1894. The inner cover is signed “Gabriel, 24 & 25 Bishop Gate St Within London”. The case has a hinged inner, back and bezel. The massive silver case has gold furniture for each of the calendar pins – see below. The rest of the case has a smooth plain finish and is in 90% mint condition – a few light bruises on the back

Dial – the white enamel dial has a subsidiary seconds dial with a moonphase function. Two more subsidiary dials at 3 and 9 for the date and day respectively and a small aperture at the 12 for the month function. This partially reveals the disc for the month display. This watch crucially has one major difference to the rest of the moonphase watches being produced at the time – all the functions are automatic. The day and date change every 24 hours. The moon changes every 48 hours and the month changes as the date reaches 31. All the functions can also be altered by their corresponding pins on the side of the case

The dial has a full set of blue spade hands and pointers and is in 90% mint condition – some hairlines on the 2 and around the sub seconds, plus some scratches on the sub seconds dial.

The watch has a thick bevelled mineral glass

The watch measures 70mm wide x 21mm deep

The watch is stem wound / pin set

The watch comes in a military deck watch style box which has a hinged lid. The box measures 128mm x 91mm x 38mm deep. The watch has a glazed panel over the dial