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17th and early 18th century Pocket Watches - Pre 1750                                                                              

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Price  £1850	No. 385    Underpainted gilt/shell case, verge    -    John Magson,  London,  c1700    This is a large and very early verge pocket watch, in a gilt brass and underpainted shell case.  It was made by John Magson, in London, around 1700. MOVEMENT : The wonderful gilded verge fusee movement, with the very large engraved and pierced balance cock, and beautiful pillars, is signed and numbered (213).    It is in excellent condition and is running well.  DIAL : The white enamel dial is about 41.5mm in diameter.  Probably a mid 18th century replacement, it is in nice condition with a couple of hairlines across the middle and small repairs on the edge at 6 and 10 o'clock.  Excellent early 18th century hands (not reproductions). CASE : Diameter 54.75mm.   The gilding on the inside is complete and worn through to the brass on the outer rims and pendant/bow.  The pendant is original and has not been reattached to the case.  Good high dome, bull's eye crystal with no damage.  The hinges and catch are all ok though the button on the catch has been worn down.  The shell covering is in very nice condition with just two small chips on the back and a spilt from the winding aperture.  On the front bezel there are just three narrow chips.  Overall a lovely early case without restoration. Loomes lists John Magson in London from 1697, and in the Clockmaker's Company from 1704 to 1716.
SOLD	No. M29    Verge movement & dial only    -    William Holloway,  London,  c1700 This very early verge movement is complete, running well and in excellent condition. DIAL : The later white enamel dial (c1750) has some damage around the edge at 2 and 6 o'clock.  Nice original steel beetle and poker hands (not reproductions). MEASUREMENTS : Main plate diameter 41.57 mm,  Dial plate 42.91 mm,  Top plate 40.17 mm.  Between plates 10.64 mm. Loomes lists William Holloway in the Clockmakers Company, London from 1697.
Price  £1250	No. 465     Gilt brass  pair case, verge   -   Thomas Bale,  London,  c1710 An early gilt brass pair cased watch, with a  verge movement, made by Thomas Bale, London, around 1710. MOVEMENT : Gilded verge fusee movement, with wonderfully engraved and pierced balance cock, showing squirrels and birds.  Signed and running well. DIAL : White enamel,  42 mm in diameter.  This later (early 19thc) dial is in very good condition with just a few light surface scratches.   No repairs. INNER CASE : Gilt brass, 48 mm in diameter.   No maker's marks.  Good condition with no damage except wear to the gilding.   Good high dome bull's eye crystal with no damage.    OUTER CASE : Gilt brass, 55.75 mm in diameter.   Again no maker's marks.  Hinge and catch fine and the case closes nicely.  The catch button is slightly worn, but the case is in good condition with again just wear to the gilding. Loomes list Thomas Bale in the Clockmaker's Company, London from 1704.
SOLD	No. 426     Silver, champleve, verge   -   Jasper Harmar,  London,  c1710 This is an early English pocket watch, in a silver case, with a verge movement.  It was made by Jasper Harmar, in London, around 1710. MOVEMENT : The gilded verge fusee movement, with a large engraved and pierced balance cock, and wonderful pillars, is signed though not numbered.    It is in excellent condition and is running well. DIAL : The silver champleve dial is about 41mm in diameter.  In very nice condition and not over cleaned.  Good early 18th century blued steel beetle and poker hands (not reproductions). CASE : Diameter 52 mm.   In very good condition.  The pendant is a bit loose (though still attached) and there is damage to the silver disc which covers the winding aperture.   Good high dome crystal with a few scratches but no chips or cracks.  The hinge and catch are fine and the case snaps shut nicely. Loomes lists Jasper Harmer in London from 1683 to 1716 ?
Price  £1950	No. 427   Silver repousse pair cases,  mock pendulum  -   James Lloyd,  London,  c1720 An English silver repousse pair case, with a verge movement and mock pendulum glazed silver balance, signed Js. Lloyd, and made in London around 1720. MOVEMENT : The verge movement is signed and numbered (4925).  Very unusual silver engraved balance cock with glazed cut out showing the mock pendulum balance.  It is in good condition and is running well. DIAL : The later mid 18th century large white enamel dial is about 41 mm in diameter.  It has a substantial repair at 6 o'clock though the rest of the dial is very good.   Later steel beetle and poker hands (reproductions). INNER CASE : Worn indecipherable hallmarks, but maker's mark IW.  The hinge and catch are fine and the case closes properly.  The silver is in good condition with no repairs but marks around the upper rim (hidden by the bezel).  The high dome bull's eye crystal is also fine with no damage or significant scratches. OUTER CASE :  A really nice early repousse case (though a bit rude).  No hallmarks.  The silver is worn on the raised surfaces but only two small holes on the bezel and the button has worn down.  The hinge and catch are fine and the case snaps shut.  CHAIN : Nice contemporary silver chain, with a continental silver mark. Loomes lists two James Lloyds (father & son) in London, between 1691 and 1721 and between 1713 to 1764.
Price  £1750	No. 428   Silver pair cases, verge  -   Thomas Crampton,  Dublin,  c1720 A rare, early Irish silver pair case, with a verge movement, made by Thomas Crampton in Dublin, around 1720. MOVEMENT : The verge movement is signed and numbered (33).  It is in good condition and is running well. DIAL : The later, mid 18th century large white enamel dial is about 40 mm in diameter.  It is in nice condition with no repairs and just a couple of small edge chips at 6 and 10, and four very light hairlines radiating from the centre.   Nice 18th century steel beetle and poker hands (not reproductions). INNER CASE : No hallmarks.  Very nice condition with no repairs, dents or bad scratches.  The high dome bull's eye crystal is also fine with no damage or significant scratches. OUTER CASE :  Maker's mark RC.   The hinge and catch are fine and the case snaps shut, although the button has worn down.  No repairs and in very good condition.  Includes an early watch paper from Cork. Loomes lists Thomas Crampton in Dublin from 1718 up until his death in 1751.
Price  £1900	No. 423     Gilt/shell pair case, verge   -   John King,  London,  c1720 This is a large and early verge pocket watch, in a gilt brass and shell pair case, with a beautiful movement.  It was made by John King, in London, around 1720. MOVEMENT : The wonderful gilded verge fusee movement, with the large engraved and pierced balance cock, and Egyptian pillars, is signed though not numbered.    It is in excellent condition and is running well. The engraving of the balance cock is of the highest quality. DIAL : The white enamel dial is about 41mm in diameter.  Probably a mid 18th century replacement, it is in good condition but with a scratch running through 60 at the top and a chip at the catch at 6 o'clock.  Excellent early 18th century gold beetle and poker hands (not reproductions). INNER CASE : Diameter 47.7mm.   The gilding on the inside is complete and worn through to the brass on the pendant/bow.  Good high dome crystal with no damage.  The hinge and catch are fine and the case snaps shut nicely. OUTER CASE : Diameter 56.25mm.   The hinge and catch are again fine and the case snaps shut. The shell covering is in very nice condition with one small chip on the back near the catch and a tiny chip on the bezel.  There are two short cracks on the  bezel and two on the back. About 20 pins missing (out of over 100).  Overall a lovely early case without restoration, with a wonderful colour.
Price  £850	No. 468    Silver pair case, verge   -   Richard Amey,  London,  c1730 A silver pair cased watch, with a  verge movement, made by Richard Amey, in London, around 1730. MOVEMENT : Gilded verge fusee movement, with engraved and pierced balance cock.  Wonderful ornate pillars.  Signed (Ri. Amey) and numbered (173).  It is running well. DIAL : White enamel,  38.5 mm in diameter.  Later than the movement, but an early enamel dial.  It is in reasonable condition with a hairline from the edge at 4, two very light hairlines at 5 and repairs on the edge at 4 and 6. INNER CASE : Silver, 45.3 mm in diameter.   No hallmarks.  Maker's mark EC.  Good condition though the pendant has been reattached and the bow is a later replacement.  The bezel snaps shut nicely.   High dome crystal with surface scratches but no chips or cracks.    OUTER CASE : Silver, 52 mm in diameter.   No hallmarks or maker's marks.  Hinge and catch fine and the case closes nicely.  Fine condition. A rare and interesting feature of this movement are the brackets on the balance cock which are screwed into the top plate.  This provides a more rigid platform for the balance pivot.  This feature was tried by a few well known innovative makers of this period (eg. Andrew Dunlop), but usually with separate steel brackets rather than having the brackets as part of the balance cock.
Price  £750	No. 197    Silver pair cases,  verge   -   William Parr,   London,   1741 This is a very early English silver pair cased pocket watch, in good working condition, with a verge escapement fusee movement, made around 1741 by William Parr in London. MOVEMENT : Gilded movement with beautifully engraved and pierced balance cock.  The movement is signed, numbered (2554) and is running well. DIAL : The white enamel dial is about 35.75 mm in diameter.  It is in good  condition with a few chips around the edge (the worst at 3 and 6 have been repaired) and two very light hairlines from the centre.  Some surface scratches.  Nice black beetle and poker hands. INNER CASE : Full hallmarks for London 1741, maker MD.  The hinge is in good condition and the case closes nicely.  Nice high dome bull's eye crystal with no damage.  Good overall condition for its age.  OUTER CASE :  Matching hallmarks to the inner.  The hinge is good and the catch and release button ok.  Again in good overall condition for its age.  No repairs. Loomes lists William Parr in London between 1713 and 1744.
Price £750	No. 473    Silver pair case, verge   -   J. Straton,  London,  1748 An early silver pair cased watch, with a  verge movement, made by J. Straton, in London, in 1748. MOVEMENT : Gilded verge fusee movement, with engraved and pierced balance cock and diamond endstone (this endstone is probably later).  Signed and numbered (1765).  It is running well. DIAL : White enamel,  36.5 mm in diameter.  It is in perfect condition except for some light surface scratches and a light hairline between 8 and the centre.  The dial, though a good fit, is a later replacement (probably late 18th century) and this is evident from the catch opening at 6 o'clock which is not necessary on this case. INNER CASE : Silver, 42 mm in diameter.   Hallmarked for London, 1748.  Maker's mark DC?.  Quite good condition though the pendant has been reattached.  The bezel snaps shut nicely.   Good high dome bull's eye crystal with no damage.    OUTER CASE : Silver, 49 mm in diameter.   No hallmarks or maker's mark.  The hinge and catch fine and the case closes nicely.  Overall very nice condition with just a small dent to the catch button and a few light bruises on the back.

Later Watches (1750 - 1774)