Pocket watch · Open-face watch

Regency silver cylinder pocket watch by John Roger Arnold

Partially verified

According to the auction catalogue, this Regency pocket watch was produced by John Roger Arnold in London circa 1814. It houses a gilt full-plate single fusee movement featuring four column pillars pinned through the backplate, a cylinder escapement with jewelled escape-wheel pivots, and a three-arm sprung steel balance with lever adjustment. The backplate incorporates a plain balance cock set with a faceted diamond endstone and is engraved with the maker's signature and serial number 3438. The auction house reports a white enamel dial with Roman numerals and subsidiary seconds, enclosed in an 1814 London-hallmarked silver consular case bearing makers' marks A.G. over J.M.

Opened view of the John Roger Arnold silver consular pocket watch displaying the movement and balance — Dreweatts. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source: auctions.dreweatts.com
Category: Pocket watch · Open-face watch
Form: Consular-cased cylinder pocket watch
Maker / attribution: John Roger Arnold
Reference: Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier: 102
Source-reported date: circa 1814
Source-reported place: United Kingdom
Source-reported serial: 3438

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 Provenance

This Regency-era pocket watch is attributed to the maker John Roger Arnold of London. The movement is inscribed with the signature 'J.R. Arnold, London' and the serial number 3438.

The auction source dates the piece to circa 1814. Historical context provided by the auction house notes that John Roger Arnold was the son of the chronometer maker John Arnold and was a member of the Clockmakers' Company.

Evidence for this section

“A Regency silver cylinder pocket watch John Roger Arnold, London, circa 1814”
“the backplate with plain balance cock fitted with faceted diamond endstone and adjacent shaped mainspring pivot plate signed J.R. Arnold, London opposing serial number No. 3438”

Movement Construction

The watch is powered by a gilt, full-plate, single fusee movement. The construction features four column pillars that are pinned through the backplate. The mechanism incorporates a cylinder escapement with jewelled escape-wheel pivots.

Regulation is provided by a sprung steel three-arm balance with a lever adjustment. The backplate includes a plain balance cock fitted with a faceted diamond endstone.

Evidence for this section

“The gilt full plate single fusee movement with four column pillars pinned through the backplate”
“cylinder escapement with jewelled escapewheel pivots regulated by sprung steel three-arm balance with lever adjustment”

Case and External Features

The watch is housed in a silver consular case featuring a convex glass, a suspension post, and a hinged rear cover. The case bears hallmarks for London 1814 and the maker's mark 'A.G. over J.M.'

The white enamel dial features Roman numerals, a subsidiary seconds dial at the six o'clock position, and blued steel spade hands. The dial is signed 'Arnold, No. 3438'.

Evidence for this section

“The silver consular case fitted with convex glass, suspension post and hinged rear cover”
“hallmarks for London 1814, makers mark A.G. over J.M.”
“the white enamel Roman numeral dial repeat signed Arnold, No. 3438 to centre over subsidiary seconds at six o clock and with blued steel spade hands”

Open research questions

Is there archival record matching the serial number 3438 to specific production dates or clients of John Roger Arnold?
Can the maker's mark 'A.G. over J.M.' be definitively linked to a specific silver case-maker active in London in 1814?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Regency silver cylinder pocket watch by John Roger Arnold
Field	Source-reported value	Source quotation
Maker	John Roger Arnold, London	“A Regency silver cylinder pocket watch John Roger Arnold, London, circa 1814”
Movement	Gilt full plate single fusee movement	“The gilt full plate single fusee movement with four column pillars pinned through the backplate”
Escapement	Cylinder escapement	“cylinder escapement with jewelled escapewheel pivots regulated by sprung steel three-arm balance with lever adjustment”
Serial number	No. 3438	“opposing serial number No. 3438”
Hallmarks	London 1814, makers mark A.G. over J.M.	“hallmarks for London 1814, makers mark A.G. over J.M.”
Dimensions	Pillar plate 44mm, case 53mm diameter overall	“the pillar plate 44mm (1.75ins) diameter, the case 53mm (2.125ins) diameter overall.”
Pillar Plate Diameter	44mm	“the pillar plate 44mm (1.75ins) diameter”

Visible details

Silver consular case shown opened, displaying the hinged rear cover, suspension post, and bow.
Glazed front bezel opened revealing the backplate profile and balance assembly.
Gilt full-plate movement showing cylindrical pillar posts, balance cock with endstone, and regulator arm.
Portions of the engraved signature and lettering visible on the backplate.

Research qualifications

The dial and hands are not visible in the supplied photograph.
Internal hallmarks and maker's marks mentioned in the text are not readable in the provided image.

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