John Russell, Falkirk

• Movement: gilded full plate, pin wheel escapement and pirouette, decoratively pierced and engraved balance cock and broad foot, seconds beating balance, diamond endstone, chain and fusee with Harrison's maintaining power, cylindrical pillars, signed John Russell, Falkirk, Invt. et Fecit, No. 1
• Dial: white enamel, radial Arabic numerals, outer minute ring with Arabic numerals at the quarters, pink gold arrow-head hour and minute hands, gold counterpoised centre seconds
• Case: plain silver case with early Regency pendant, the hinged back opening to reveal fixed cuvette with apertures for winding and hand-set, inner cover and outer back hallmarked London 1796 and with maker's mark WL incuse for William Laithwait or William Lewis  

Time Musuem, Rockford, Illinois, Inventory No. 1006
Sotheby's New York, Masterpieces from the Time Museum, 2nd December 1999, lot 17

Terence Camerer Cuss, The English Watch 1585-1970, 2009, p. 310, pl. 195

Movement running and appears to be in good clean condition. dial with old scratch at 3 o'clock, otherwise in good overall condition. Silver case tarnished but in good overall condition.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. All dimensions in catalogue descriptions are approximate. Condition reports may not specify mechanical replacements or imperfections to the movement, case, dial, pendulum, separate base(s) or dome. Watches in water-resistant cases have been opened to examine movements but no warranties are made that the watches are currently water-resistant. Please note that we do not guarantee the authenticity of any individual component parts, such as wheels, hands, crowns, crystals, screws, bracelets and leather bands, since subsequent repairs and restoration work may have resulted in the replacement of original parts. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue. In particular, please note it is the purchaser's responsibility to comply with any applicable import and export matters, particularly in relation to lots incorporating materials from endangered species.NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

**Please be advised that bands made of materials derived from endangered or otherwise protected species (i.e. alligator and crocodile) are not sold with the watches and are for display purposes only. We reserve the right to remove these bands prior to shipping."

This highly unusual watch has a 'true' beating seconds hand; this is achieved by the pin wheel type pirouette escapement with seconds beating balance. The brass escape wheel has a single row of upright pins and the anchor-like pallet arms are mounted separately on the same arbor, one being stepped so that the pallets are on the same plane.

John Russell, born in 1745, made a number of unusual watches, clocks and barometers and was patronised by both the horophile King George III and the Prince Regent, later George IV. Barometers by Russell may be found in both the Victoria & Albert Museum and Buckingham palace.