Pocket Watch: An Imposing 1881 Centre Seconds Chronograph Fusee Pocket Watch by Emanuel Wise of Manchester

Substantial “Centre Seconds Chronograph” silver fusee pocket watch, by well-documented maker Emanuel Wise, of 33 York Street, Cheetham, Manchester, (then Lancashire). • Silver hallmarked London 1881. • A case of impressive size with gold hinges. • White enamelled dial. • Gold main hands and blued sweep centre seconds hand. • Roman hour numerals and 0-300 chronograph scale Arabic numerals. • Wise signed fusee movement with three-quarter plate, compensated balance, and diamond end stone. • Engraved Coventry ‘Star’ mark on the regulator scale, (the endorsement of exceptional engi-neering quality!) • Case maker was Alfred Gurney (“Ag”), of Smithfield Street, Coventry. • Case and movement serial numbers the same: “2110”, (and replicated on the dial face). • Comes with a winding key, and instructions on how to wind and set the watch time. Born 1843, in Orzesze, Poland, Wise served his watchmaking apprentiship in Glashütte, Germany, training under the auspice of Royal watchmaker Ferdinand Lange. On completion of this illustrious training, c1864, (and perhaps due to escalating political unrest in Germany and the surrounding region at the time), Wise decided to travel to England where he resided with an uncle in Hull, Yorkshire. However, it did not take the young Wise long to settle into his new surroundings, because by 1866, it is recorded that he had become the father to his first daughter Amelia! By 1871 (then c28 years old), Wise was recorded as residing in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne as a watchmaker for jeweller, Samuel Hyams, by which time Wise was married to Jane, the couple having 5 young children. It was sometime during 1873 that Wise decided to relocate to Manchester, where he set-up his own watchmaking business at 33 York Street (where this lovely chronograph watch would have been made). Such was the success of his operation, that he quickly became established as one Manchester’s (and indeed, the North of England’s), most prolific watchmakers of the day, specialising in the making and assembly of high-quality yet affordable fusee Chronograph and open-faced pocket watches for management level workers of the day. He became a British Citizen in 1877 and anointed an ‘English Freemason’ in 1879 as a “Watchmaker.” Wise remained at 33 York Street, Manchester until c1887, when the demand for his watches had become so great, that he had to move into larger watchmaking workshops and jewellery premises at 208 York Street, from where “…he employed 4 men.” By this time, he, and wife Jane, were also the parents to 9 children, some of whom followed their father into the family business. By the time of his retirement in c1912, Wise was listed as a “Jewellery Dealer” and was residing with Jane at the affluent address of 2 Heaton Villas, Bury Old Road, Manchester, where he passed away on 2 December 1913. On his death, his personal wealth was valued at £1.6 million when converted into today’s money!! Note: This watch does not come with a chain or fob. If you require a silver chain/fob from our large stock, please contact us for advice. Payment - We Accept: - Debit / Credit Cards. - Bacs Transfer. (Our bank details are on our invoices). - PayPal, via this site.