Skip to content
The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Tourbillon openface pocket watch

Charles Frodsham Gold Openface Six-Minute Tourbillon Pocket Watch

Partially verified

This openface tourbillon pocket watch was retailed by Charles Frodsham & Co., bearing serial number 09190/12127 and hallmarked circa 1906–1907. Housed in a 60 mm 18-karat gold case made by Harrison Mill Frodsham, it contains a manual-wind movement supplied by Nicole Nielsen that incorporates a six-minute tourbillon carriage and a free-sprung balance. The watch received a Class A certificate with 84.3 marks at Kew Observatory in 1906. Its frosted gilt movement plate features extensive engraved inscriptions, royal warrants, blued screws, and the firm's characteristic 'AD. Fmsz' cryptogram.

Movement view of the Charles Frodsham pocket watch showing the six-minute tourbillon cage, frosted gilt plate, and pendant bow
Movement view of the Charles Frodsham pocket watch showing the six-minute tourbillon cage, frosted gilt plate, and pendant bow — Christie’s. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
onlineonly.christies.com
Category
Pocket watch · Tourbillon openface pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Charles Frodsham & Co.
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
480
Source-reported date
Circa 1906-1907
Country
United Kingdom
Source-reported serial
09190/12127

Source-reported attribution and specifications are not independent authentication. A listing does not establish present ownership, current display, availability or permission to reproduce.

Object description

Identity and Casing

This openface pocket watch is catalogued under the dual numbering '09190/12127' and is housed in an 18-karat gold case measuring 60 mm in diameter. The cataloguer attributes the case construction to Harrison Mill Frodsham, son of Charles Frodsham, and lists the piece as hallmarked 1906–1907. Visual inspection of the pendant confirms a hallmark impression situated below the winding crown and bow.

While direct observation is limited to the open hinged gold case back displaying the movement, the catalogue reports that the off-white enamel dial was supplied by Frederick Willis. The dial itself and internal cuvette hallmarks are not visible in the provided movement photograph.

Evidence for this section
  • “CASE MATERIAL: 18K gold, by Harrison Mill Frodsham”
  • “CASE SIZE: 60 mm. diam.”
  • “CIRCA : Hallmarked 1906-1907”
  • “Hallmark visible on the pendant neck beneath the winding crown and bow.”
  • “The off-white dial was supplied by Frederick Willis”

Movement Architecture and Tourbillon

The manual-wind movement was supplied by Nicole Nielsen and is equipped with a six-minute tourbillon carriage and a free-sprung balance. The frosted gilt three-quarter plate is visually secured by blued screws and incorporates an exposed tourbillon cage with a three-arm bridge.

The plate displays engraved inscriptions including 'Chas. Frodsham', '09190', '12127', royal warrants, and the cryptogram 'AD. Fmsz'. According to the auction essay, this code originated at the Great Exhibition of 1851 as a cipher for the year 1850 based on the letter sequence of 'Frodsham' with 'Z' representing zero, which the firm reserved for its finest timepieces.

Evidence for this section
  • “MOVEMENT: Manual, by Niocole Nielsen”
  • “FUNCTIONS: Six-minute tourbillon, free sprung”
  • “Open hinged gold case back showing a frosted gilt three-quarter plate movement.”
  • “Prominent exposed tourbillon cage with a three-arm bridge.”
  • “Movement plate engraved with 'Chas. Frodsham', '09190', '12127', 'AD. Fmsz', and royal warrants, secured with blued screws.”
  • “At the Great Exhibition of 1851 in London, Frodsham exhibited a three quarter plate calibre signed with the letters "AD. FMSZ", a cryptogram for the year 1850.”

Observatory Testing and Archival Records

Accompanying documentation includes a Charles Frodsham & Co. Ltd. Certificate of Origin dated 24 March 2021, confirming that watch number 09190 received a Class A Kew Observatory certificate in 1906 with 84.3 marks ('Especially Good'). Archival entries state that the watch incurred £52 in manufacturing costs and entered company stock in 1907.

The auction essay notes that among roughly 66 tourbillons recorded in Charles Frodsham & Co. archives between 1898 and 1934, only four were built with six-minute carriages. The watch is cited in published horological literature, including Vaudrey Mercer's 'The Frodshams' and Reinhard Meis's 'Das Tourbillon'.

Evidence for this section
  • “WITH: Charles Frodsham & Co. Ltd. Certificate of Origin dated 24 March 2021 confirming that watch no. 09190 had obtained a Kew Certificate with 84.3 Marks Especially Good.”
  • “Manufacturing cost were £52, it was entered into the firm's stock in 1907.”
  • “To date, just four watches are recorded as having 6-minute carriages, including the present watch.”
  • “The present watch is listed in The Frodshams by Vaudrey Mercer, p. 418, pl. 85. It is also described and illustrated in Das Tourbillon by Reinhard, Meis, p. 211, and listed on p. 345.”

Open research questions

  • What specific town mark, standard mark, and date letter are struck inside the case back or cuvette?
  • Does the Willis enamel dial include an up-and-down state-of-wind indicator, as mentioned for the majority of Frodsham tourbillons in company records?
  • How does Charles Frodsham's archival registry differentiate between serial numbers 09190 and 12127 regarding Nicole Nielsen's movement manufacture versus Frodsham's retail numbering?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Charles Frodsham Gold Openface Six-Minute Tourbillon Pocket Watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
Serial Number09190/12127“NO. 09190/12127”
Case Material18K gold, by Harrison Mill Frodsham“CASE MATERIAL: 18K gold, by Harrison Mill Frodsham”
Case Diameter60 mm“CASE SIZE: 60 mm. diam.”
Movement MakerNicole Nielsen“MOVEMENT: Manual, by Niocole Nielsen”
FunctionsSix-minute tourbillon, free sprung“FUNCTIONS: Six-minute tourbillon, free sprung”
Hallmark Date1906-1907“CIRCA : Hallmarked 1906-1907”
Dial MakerFrederick Willis (off-white enamel)“The off-white dial was supplied by Frederick Willis”
Archival Manufacturing Cost£52“Manufacturing cost were £52, it was entered into the firm's stock in 1907.”
Literature CitationsVaudrey Mercer, p. 418, pl. 85; Reinhard Meis, p. 211, listed p. 345“The present watch is listed in The Frodshams by Vaudrey Mercer, p. 418, pl. 85. It is also described and illustrated in Das Tourbillon by Reinhard, Meis, p. 211, and listed on p. 345.”

Visible details

  • Open hinged gold case back showing a frosted gilt three-quarter plate movement.
  • Prominent exposed tourbillon cage with a three-arm bridge.
  • Movement plate engraved with 'Chas. Frodsham', '09190', '12127', 'AD. Fmsz', and royal warrants, secured with blued screws.
  • Hallmark visible on the pendant neck beneath the winding crown and bow.

Research qualifications

  • Dial side is not shown in the provided photograph.
  • Internal cuvette and inner case back stamps are not visible in this image.

Photograph identity and source facts were screened before import; rights clearance remains pending.

Consulted source

CHARLES FRODSHAM, GOLD OPENFACE SIX-MINUE TOURBILLON, AWARDED A CLASS A KEW OBSERVATORY CERTIFICATE IN 1906, NO. 09190/12127 | Christie’s

Reviewed 2026-10-21 · Record a323bdb087

Terms in this record

Glossary explanations for terms named in this object’s record.