F. Willard - 23 Rubies con soprte de madera - 1900-1949

Exceptional High-End Gold-Sabonet Pocket Watch "F. Willard" (23 Jewels) with Integrated Desktop Stand in Decorated Wood – ca. 1890-1910
General Lot Description
Lot composed of a high-watchmaking American/Swiss sabonette pocket watch (hunter case) and an original desktop display stand in carved and decorated noble wood. The set allows transforming the piece from a pocket watch to a desk or mantel clock via a clever mechanical interlocking system.
Technical and Aesthetic Specifications of the Watch
* Brand/Signatory: F. Willard (signed on both the dial and the movement plate).
* Era: Circa 1890 – 1910 (late 19th century / early 20th century).
* Case:
* Type: Sabonette (hunter case) with a front hinged cover.
* Material: Gold plate / gold-toned period with fine floral engravings and bas-relief ornamentation.
* Diameter: 55.55 mm
* Total weight: 125.64 g
* Dial:
* White enamel over metal in excellent condition.
* Black Arabic numerals for the hours and an outer minute track with red numerals at 5-minute intervals.
* Subsidiary seconds dial at 6 o’clock.
* Blued steel hands in Poire or spade style.
* Movement and Mechanism:
* Caliber: Manual-winding mechanical.
* Jewels: 23 jewels, placing the movement in the high-grade / premium precision range.
* Adjustments: Adjusted in 6 positions (Adjusted Six Positions), indicative of high chronometric standards. Time-setting via crown on the dial.
* Movement decoration: Upper plate with wavy patina in the Damaskeening style or Genève stripes, compensated balance and micrometric graduated regulator rack.
* Serial number: 816527 engraved on the bridge.
Description of the Desktop Stand/Display
* Material: Noble wood varnished in walnut tone with inlays/ornamental gold vegetal/floral motifs.
* Base dimensions: 10 cm wide x 6 cm deep.
* Total height: 18 cm.
* Extraction and Housing Mechanism:
* The watch slots into a cylindrical wooden drum interior lining that cradles the watch body.
* The back of the stand features a metal plate with a through screw that locks or releases the piece.
* When housed in the stand, the crown and bow are exposed laterally, and the watch lid opens at the front, displaying the dial like a Victorian/Art Nouveau mantel or desk clock.
Historical Notes and Rarity
* Manufacturer name ("F. Willard"): The F. Willard signature corresponds to private labels or special editions dedicated to prominent figures in American horology (such as the iconic Willard family of clockmakers from Massachusetts) or marketed by major distributors of the era for high-end Swiss and American calibers.
* Rarity: Notably rare is the 23-jewel count with 6-position adjustment. The vast majority of pocket watches of the period used between 7 and 15 jewels, with 21–23 jewel pieces classified as Railroad Grade or high-precision pieces.
* Versatility of use: The preservation of the original stand with its period rear-retention system makes this lot a rare dual-use collectibles piece (pocket watch and desktop clock).