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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · English lever pocket watch

Grenfell & Frazier Pocket Watch and Albert Chain

Partially verified

This English lever pocket watch is signed by Grenfell & Frazier, a firm located on Edgware Road near Marble Arch in London. It is equipped with a crown-wind movement and a pin-set mechanism, the latter activated by a button positioned at the 1 o'clock mark. The white enamel dial displays black Roman numerals, blued steel hands, and a sunken subsidiary seconds dial at the 6 o'clock position. The watch is paired with a graduated silver Albert chain weighing 35.8g, hallmarked in Chester, 1897. The ensemble includes a double-sided Victorian fob, which holds a bloodstone inlay on one side and a compass on the other.

Front view of the Grenfell & Frazier pocket watch showing the enamel dial, hands, subsidiary dial, and the attached silver Albert chain with the reversible fob.
Front view of the Grenfell & Frazier pocket watch showing the enamel dial, hands, subsidiary dial, and the attached silver Albert chain with the reversible fob. — Ashton-Blakey Vintage Watches. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
ashton-blakey-antiques.com
Category
Pocket watch · English lever pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Grenfell & Frazier
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
Source URL identifies the listing
Source-reported date
1898
Source-reported place
England

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

Case and Dial

The watch is housed in a 50mm silver case, hallmarked in Chester in 1898. The exterior of the case is smooth, showing a polished finish. The crown, used for winding, exhibits a contrasting gold-hued metal. The silver bow remains intact for attachment to the accompanying Albert chain.

The dial is composed of white enamel, which is reported to be free from cracks or chips. It features black Roman numerals for the hour markers and a subsidiary dial located at the 6 o'clock position for measuring seconds. The time is indicated by blued steel hands.

Evidence for this section
  • “The silver case remains in excellent condition”
  • “The white enamel dial is pristine, free from cracks or chips, and boasts black numerals, blued steel hands, and a small sweep second hand at the 6 o’clock position”

Movement and Mechanism

The timepiece utilizes an English lever escapement. It is designed as a crown-wind watch, which is supplemented by a pin-set mechanism for time adjustment. To set the hands, the user must depress a side pin located at the 1 o'clock position on the case band.

The movement contains specific branding related to the location of the retailer.

Evidence for this section
  • “This English lever watch, clean and fully functional”
  • “is especially rare due to the engraved Marble Arch logo on the movement”
  • “This crown-wind, pin-set timepiece allows you to set the time by pressing the side pin at the 1 o’clock mark.”

Chain and Fob

The watch is presented with a 35.8g graduated silver Albert chain, which is hallmarked on every individual link, the T-bar, and the fastener. These hallmarks correspond to the Chester assay office and a date of 1897.

Attached to the chain is a Victorian-era fob. This component is dual-sided, housing a piece of bloodstone on one side and a functioning compass on the reverse, providing both aesthetic and utilitarian features to the overall ensemble.

Evidence for this section
  • “The 35.8g silver graduated chain is fully hallmarked on each link, bar, and fastener.”
  • “The Victorian fob features a bloodstone on one side and a compass on the other”

Open research questions

  • What is the specific movement caliber used within the Grenfell & Frazier branded watch?
  • Are there extant records for the retailer Grenfell & Frazier on Edgware Road in the 1890s to confirm their operational dates?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Grenfell & Frazier Pocket Watch and Albert Chain
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MakerGrenfell & Frazier“Grenfell & Frazier”
Watch HallmarkChester, 1898“silver hallmarks for Chester, 1898”
Chain HallmarkChester, 1897“hallmarked in Chester, 1897”
Diameter50mm“diameter of 50mm”
Setting MechanismPin-set at 1 o'clock“set the time by pressing the side pin at the 1 o’clock mark”
Chain Weight35.8g“35.8g silver graduated chain”
Fob FeaturesBloodstone and compass“Victorian fob features a bloodstone on one side and a compass on the other”

Visible details

  • Winding button appears to have a gold-colored finish
  • Sunken subsidiary seconds dial at 6 o'clock
  • Silver Albert chain with a T-bar attachment
  • Victorian fob features a reversible bloodstone and compass

Research qualifications

  • The exact identity of the engraver of the movement logo is not stated
  • The mechanical integrity of the internal movement is reported by the vendor but not verified

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

Consulted source

ساعت جیبی نقره Grenfell & Frazier مدل Marble Arch با زنجیر و فوب آلبرت

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record 18b866ab11

Terms in this record

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

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