Cogs and Pieces

Dealers in fine antique 

pocket watches

Home      Contact us      Terms       Links      Archive  

Mid 18th century Pocket Watches - 1750 to 1774                                                  

Click on an image for a full set of photos

Price £600	No. 506     Gilt/brass pair case, verge   -   William Biefield,  London,  c1750 MOVEMENT : Gilded verge fusee movement, with engraved and pierced balance cock.  Signed and numbered (5676).  The movement is running well and appears to be all original. The only damage is a small crack to the lower right hand edge of the balance cock table, though this does not effect the running. DIAL : White enamel,  36 mm in diameter.  It is in very good condition with just some light surface scratches and a very light hairline running towards the centre from 5 o'clock.  No repairs. INNER CASE : Gilt/brass,  42 mm in diameter.   Some wear to the gilding though in good overall condition.  The pendant has been reattached.  The hinge is fine and the case closes.  Good high dome bull's eye crystal with a few light scratches but no chips.    OUTER CASE : Gilt/brass,  49.5 mm in diameter.   The hinge and catch are fine and the case closes nicely.  The catch button is fine.  The gilding has worn from the outer surfaces and a crack in the bezel has been soldered from the inside (just below the pendant).
Price £2150	No. 475    Gold pair cases,  lever   -   Robert Allam,  London,  c1750 This English watch, in a heavy solid gold pair case, with later lever conversion movement, was made by Robert Allam in London, around 1750.     MOVEMENT : Engraved and pierced balance cock with diamond endstone. It is signed and numbered (1056) and running very well.  Very good conversion to a lever movement, probably done around 1800.  Clean, good quality movement, in excellent condition, with original signed and numbered dustcap. DIAL : The white enamel dial is about 37.5 mm in diameter.  It is in perfect condition except for a few tiny surface marks and a small repair, right on the edge between 7 and 8. INNER CASE : Diameter 43.5 mm.  No marks but tested as high carat gold, probably 22ct.   The hinge and catch are fine and the case snaps shut nicely. The bow has been repaired, with the ends a slightly different colour.  The high dome bull's eye crystal is in good condition with just one small scratch but no chips.  The gold is in good condition with no dents or noticeable scratches. OUTER CASE :  Diameter 50.75 mm. and again with no marks but tested as high carat gold.  The hinge and catch are fine and the case snaps shut nicely.  The top of the catch button has worn down but otherwise this case is in very good condition with just some very light shallow bruises on the back. This is a very heavy gold case, weighing about 75 gms. without the movement and crystal.  Loomes lists Robert Allam in London between 1730 and 1765.
Price £750	No. 484     Gilt/shagreen pair case, verge   -   Jasper Taylor,  Holborn, London, c1750 MOVEMENT : Gilded verge fusee movement, with engraved and pierced "lace edge" balance cock, and large ruby endstone.  Signed and numbered (84?).  A little damage to the right hand edge of the balance cock.  The movement is running well. DIAL : White enamel,  35 mm in diameter.  It is in good condition with no repairs but some surface scratches and 3 light hairlines radiating from the centre. INNER CASE : Gilt/brass,  40.5 mm in diameter.   Good condition with the gilding still present.  The hinge is fine and the case closes.  Later bow.  Good high dome bull's eye crystal with no damage. OUTER CASE : Gilt/shagreen,  47.5 mm in diameter.   The hinge and catch are fine and the case closes nicely.  The shagreen covering is almost complete on the back with just one small split but has more pieces missing from the front bezel.  Just 3 pins missing. Loomes lists Jasper Taylor in Holborn, London, in the Clockmaker's Company from 1729, died in 1770.
Price  £750	No. 463     Silver pair case, verge   -   Thomas Eastland,  London,  c1750 A small silver pair cased watch, with a  verge movement, made by Thomas Eastland, London, around 1750. MOVEMENT : Gilded verge fusee movement, with engraved and pierced balance cock.  Signed and not numbered.  It is running well. DIAL : White enamel,  31 mm in diameter.  It is in very good condition with a few light surface scratches and a very small chip on the edge at 5.   No repairs.  Good genuine mid 18th century hands (not reproductions). INNER CASE : Silver, 38 mm in diameter.   Hallmarked for London, 1778.  Maker's mark EL.  Generally good condition but the pendant has been reattached and one sleeve of the hinge is broken, though the bezel snaps shut nicely.  Good high dome bull's eye crystal with no damage.    OUTER CASE : Silver, 45.5 mm in diameter.   Matching hallmarks to the inner.  Hinge and catch fine and the case closes nicely.  The catch button is missing and has been replaced with a brass slotted button. This pair case is later that the movement and dial, but is a perfect fit.  It shows no modifications so may have been made specifically for this earlier movement. Loomes list Thomas Eastland in London between 1744 and 1751.
Price  £650	No. 430     Gilt/shell pair case, verge   -   Joseph Grey,  Durham,  c1750 This is a small, early verge pocket watch, in a gilt brass and shell pair case, with a  verge movement.  It was made by Joseph Grey, in Durham, around 1750. MOVEMENT : The gilded verge fusee movement, with engraved and pierced balance cock, and Egyptian pillars, is signed though not numbered.  It is in excellent condition and is running well. DIAL : The white enamel dial is about 35mm in diameter.  It is in fine condition with just a few surface scratches and a light rub to the chapter at 7.  INNER CASE : Diameter 40.7mm.   The gilding on the inside is complete and worn through to the brass on much of the outside. Good high dome crystal with no damage.  The hinge and catch are fine and the case snaps shut nicely. OUTER CASE : Diameter 47.25mm.   The hinge and catch are again fine and the case snaps shut.  The catch button has worn down.  The shell covering has a few chips and splits but no repairs and very few pins missing.  A nice original unrestored case. Loomes list Joseph Grey in Durham between 1695 to 1756.
Price  £575	No. 431     Silver/gilt pair case, verge   -   John Jackson,  London,  1754 This is a small, early verge pocket watch, in a silver gilt and brass gilt pair case, with a  verge movement.  It was made by John Jackson, in London around 1754. MOVEMENT : The gilded verge fusee movement, with engraved and pierced balance cock, is signed and numbered (1443).  It is in excellent condition and is running well. DIAL : The white enamel dial is about 34.5 mm in diameter.  It is in reasonable condition with just a few surface scratches but a repair at 6.  Good 18th century steel beetle and poker hands (not reproductions).   The catch at 6 is worn, so to access the movement, this catch needs to be carefully released, using a small screwdriver. INNER CASE : Diameter 41.5mm.   Silver gilt, hallmarked for London 1754, maker JW.  Good overall condition and nice high dome crystal with light scratches but no chips or cracks.  The hinge and catch are fine and the case snaps shut nicely. OUTER CASE : Diameter 48 mm.   Brass gilt.  The hinge and catch are again fine and the case snaps shut. The gilt has been worn through to the bras but otherwise in very good condition.
Price £750	No. 517    Silver gilt/shell pair case, verge   -   George Cranbrook, London, 1757 MOVEMENT : Gilded verge movement, signed and numbered (7941).  Pierced and engraved balance cock and plate.  Nice clean condition and running well.  DIAL : 36.5 mm.  The white enamel dial is virtually perfect with just a few surface scratches and some tiny chips on the edge between 5 and 6 o'clock.  These are very minor imperfections on a fine dial.  INNER CASE : 42.25 mm.  Gilded silver, hallmarked for London 1757.  Makers mark  JL?.  Very good condition with the gilding almost complete, though worn from the bow and some of the pendant.  High dome bull's eye crystal with no damage.  The hinge is fine and the case snaps shut nicely. OUTER CASE : 50 mm.  Brass gilt, with shell covering. The case is in excellent original condition with no restoration,  only 1 pin missing and no shell missing.  There are a few thin cracks in the shell but overall in exceptional condition. The hinge and catch are fine and the case closes nicely. Loomes lists G. Cranbrook in London, pre 1773.
Price  £1150	No. 337    Silver pair cases, calendar verge    -    Tarts,  London,  1764 This is an excellent large English silver pair cased pocket watch, with a verge escapement fusee movement, and calendar aperture within the dial.  It was made in London around 1764. MOVEMENT : Signed (TARTS. LONDON) and numbered (753), with engraved and pieced double footed balance cock.  The “lace” edging to the balance cock is typical of the 1760s.  Nice square pillars and worm screw mainspring set up.  It is running well (to about a minute per hour) and the calendar mechanism is complete and working. DIAL : The white enamel dial is about 40 mm in diameter.  It is in good condition but with one hairline from the date aperture to the edge at 8 and some cracks and scratches around the edge between 4 and 6 o'clock.  The date aperture, with silver rim, shows the date numerals on the under dial calendar wheel.  Nice old matching blued steel beetle and poker hands INNER CASE : Full hallmarks for London, 1764, maker TS.  The hinge is in good condition and the case snaps shut nicely.  The high dome crystal has a few scratches but otherwise good.  The bow and pendant are fine but with the usual repaired join to the case.  The silver is in very good condition. OUTER CASE :  Matching hallmarks to the inner and again in very good condition.  The hinge and catch are fine and the case snaps shut nicely.  The catch button is present but dented. It is a large case, about 55.5 mm in diameter. Loomes list Tarts in London during the second half of the 18th century and suggests the name was used by J. Stratton for watches made for the Dutch market. This is a good quality London made watch, possibly made for export, and not a continental lower quality version.
Price £575	No. 529   Silver pair case, verge  -   Mark Noble,  Peterborough,  1769 MOVEMENT : Gilded verge fusee movement, with engraved and pierced balance cock.  It is fully signed and numbered (92).  Good original condition and running well. DIAL :  Signed, white enamel dial, 37 mm.  No repairs but surface scratches, some rubbing around the edges and a couple of short hairlines on the edge at 7.  The name and place lettering on the dial have been rubbed (also the word “PERERBOROUGH” is missing the last letter.  This must have been a mistake by the dial maker, as the letters are engraved and this last letter is absent).   Nice original 18th century beetle and poker hands. INNER CASE : Silver, 43 mm in diameter.   Hallmarked for London, 1769, maker's mark TP.  Good condition, with just one light bruise, though the pendant is later and  has been reattached to the case.  The hinge is fine and the case snaps shut nicely.  Good high dome bull's eye crystal in nice condition. OUTER CASE : Silver, 50 mm in diameter.   Matching hallmarks to the inner.  Again in fine condition, with just a couple of vey small dents on the back.  The catch and button are fine and the case closes nicely. This outer case contains 4 interesting watch papers, all from Stamford (Lincs). Loomes lists Noble in Peterborough, c1770 – c1790.
Price £575	No. 525    Gilt & leather pair case, verge  -   Gregg,  London,  c1770 MOVEMENT : Gilded verge fusee movement, with engraved and pierced balance cock.  It is signed and numbered (7627) and is running well. DIAL : Signed white enamel,  33.5 mm. in diameter.  Nice condition with a few surface scratches, a light hairline across the centre (just below the centre hole), another short hairline on the edge at 2 and some small chips on the edge at 6. Nice original 18th century beetle and poker hands. INNER CASE : Gilt/brass, 39.5 mm in diameter.   Maker's mark JB.  Quite good condition though a sleeve is missing from the hinge (the case does snap shut) and much of the gilding has worn off.  The bow is a replacement.  The back is beautifully engraved with a former owner's name “A A Adkins”.   Good high dome bull's eye crystal in fine condition.    OUTER CASE : Gilt with black leather covering and silver pin work.  45.75 mm in diameter.   Very nice condition, with the leather and pins complete, and the hinge, catch and button all fine.
Price £750	No. 501    Gilt pair case, verge   -   George Prior,  London, c1770 MOVEMENT : The gilded verge movement is signed (Geo. Prior, London) and numbered (6520).  All appears to be original and it is running well.  DIAL : The white enamel dial, with painted flowers, is about 36.5 mm in diameter.  Good condition with no repairs but some hairlines and wear, mostly down the right hand side.  Blued steel hands.  The painted flowers on this dial have been very well done and appear to be original (under the glaze which has not been retouched). INNER CASE : 42.5 mm.  Brass gilt,  maker's mark IR.   Good condition but with wear to the gilding around the edge.  Good hinge, catch and high dome bull's eye crystal with no damage.  Replacement bow. OUTER CASE : 51.5 mm.  Brass gilt.  The gilding has worn evenly from the back and bezel but no dents or damage.  The opening catch and button are absent. Loomes lists George Prior in London between 1765 and 1812.  Like his son Edward, who succeeded him,  Prior specialized in watches for the Eastern market and was making verge watches of 18th century style, still popular in this market, into the 19th century.
Price  £550	No. 433     Silver pair case, verge   -   Richard Upjohn, Exeter, c1770 This is a silver pair case (later), with verge movement, made by Richard Upjohn, in Exeter around 1770. MOVEMENT : The gilded verge fusee movement, with engraved and pierced balance cock, is signed and numbered (1275).  It is running well. DIAL : The white enamel dial is about 36.5 mm in diameter.  It is in good condition with just a few surface scratches, a tiny edge chip at 7 and two very light hairlines from the centre.  No repairs. INNER CASE : Diameter 40.5 mm.   Silver hallmarks for London, 1828, maker JK.  Good overall condition and nice high dome bull's eye crystal with no damage.  The hinge has one sleeve damaged but the catch is fine and the case snaps shut nicely. OUTER CASE : Diameter 46.5 mm.   Silver hallmarks matching the inner.  The hinge and catch are again fine and the case snaps shut. Although later that the movement, the pair case is of late 18th century style and in very nice condition.  May have been made for this movement. Loomes lists Richard Upjohn in Exeter up until 1778.
Sold	No. 434     18ct rose gold, verge   -   Dufour, Ceret & Cie, Ferney, France,  c1770 This is a small rose gold cased verge watch, by Dufour, Ceret & Cie, made around 1770 in Ferney, France.  This is the watch manufactory, founded by Voltaire in the mid 18th century. MOVEMENT : The gilded verge fusee movement is signed but not numbered.  It is running well. DIAL : The signed white enamel dial is about 30 mm in diameter.  It has repairs on the edge at 9 and around the winding aperture.  Excellent original gold hands. CASE : Diameter 36 mm.   Nice little case in two colours of gold, rose and yellow.  No marks but tested as high carat gold.  The only damage on the case is to the catch button which is dented. Hinges and catches are fine.  The crystal has a chip at 7. Loomes lists Dufour, Certet & Cie at Ferney in 1770.
Sold	No. 487     18ct multicoloured gold, verge   -   Lansquenet,  Brest,  France,  c1771 This is an excellent French verge watch, in a solid gold case, made by Lansquenet in Brest around 1771.  MOVEMENT : The gilded verge fusee movement is signed and numbered (610).  It is running very well. DIAL : The white enamel dial is about 32 mm in diameter.  It has no repairs but a few very light short hairlines around the edge, mostly near 50.  Very nice old gold hands. CASE : Diameter 38.5 mm.   Nice little case in two colours of gold, rose and yellow, with some silver highlights.  No gold marks but tested as high carat gold.  There is a maker's mark (a crown over FS) and a case serial number (2210).  The stem is also marked (L3). The gold case is in excellent condition.  The only damage is to the catch button which is very slightly dented. Hardly any wear and no repairs.  The hinges and catches are fine and the cae shuts nicely.  The crystal has a tiny flake, on the edge at 11, but otherwise fine. Loomes lists Lansquenay in Brest in 1771 (just right for this watch).  This maker installed LeRoy's and Berthoud's time-pieces for De Borda's voyages.
Price £850	No. 485     Silver case, verge   -   De Belle, Paris, c1773 MOVEMENT : Gilded verge fusee movement.  Signed "De Belle   a Paris".  The movement is complete, clean and running well. DIAL : Wonderful blue & white enamel and gilded brass dial.  45 mm in diameter.  It is in good condition with no repairs but 5 light hairlines running across the enamel chapter ring.  There is one damaged dial foot missing from the back of the dial. CASE : Silver,  51 mm in diameter.   Good condition though the pendant has been reattached.  The hinge is fine and the case closes nicely.    Good high dome crystal with no damage.  The back has ben quite crudely engraved with "CATE  1773". Loomes lists Jean Francois De Belle at the Rue St. Honore, in Paris, from 1781.  This is probably the maker of this watch, though it is a little earlier than this date.
Price  £600	No. 402   Silver pair cases,  verge   -   William Howard,  London,  1773 MOVEMENT :  The verge movement is signed and numbered (7542).  It is running well and is in good complete condition. DIAL : The white enamel dial is about 35.5 mm in diameter.  It is in excellent condition with a few light surface scratches but no hairlines, chips or repairs.  Good original 18th century hands (not reproductions). INNER CASE : Hallmarked for London 1773, with the movement serial number (7542).  The hinge and catch are fine and the case snaps shut nicely.  The pendant has been reattached to the case,  The high dome crystal has some scratches but no chips.    The case is in very nice overall condition with one small dent on the shoulder just to the right of the hinge. OUTER CASE :  Matching hallmarks to the inner (maker IT).  The hinge and catch are fine, and the button is complete.  Again in very good overall condition.  The case snaps shut nicely.   It is 49.5 mm in diameter.  Loomes lists a William Howard in London between 1759 and 1777.

Earlier Watches (pre 1750)                   Later Watches (1775 - 1779)